EXPLORE THE SUNDAY GOSPEL
Cleansing of the Temple.
Since the Passover of the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money-changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords
and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money-changers
and overturned their tables,
and to those who sold doves he said,
"Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
"What sign can you show us for doing this?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."
The Jews said,
"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?"
But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture
and the word Jesus had spoken.
MEET OUR EXTENDED FAMILY
Servant of God Dorothy Day (Feast Day November 29)
November 8, 1897-November 29, 1980
"If I have achieved anything in my life, it is because I have not been embarrassed to talk about God."
Dorothy Day was born in 1897, the third of four children. She was an avid reader and was inspired by stories of people who took an active role in bringing change to the world around them. Moved by Upton Sinclair's book The Jungle, Dorothy learned to see beauty in unlikely places, including the poor neighborhoods of Chicago where she grew up. By the time Dorothy started college, she had determined she was an atheist. The more she read, the more she was drawn to radical social ideals. Two years later, she dropped out of college and moved to New York. In New York, she worked for a socialist newspaper and wrote about rallies and demonstrations. She continued her work writing in opposition to American involvement in the Vietnam War.
Dorothy's conversion to the Catholic faith took shape when she discovered she was pregnant with her daughter, Tamar. Upon hearing the news that Dorothy was pregnant, Tamar's father had no interest in marriage or children and felt that it was wrong to bring a child "into such a violent world." He left Dorothy alone, pregnant, and brokenhearted. Still, Dorothy found beauty in her painful ordeal. She turned her heart toward God, having Tamar baptized into the Catholic Church, and being received into full communion herself. Dorothy went on to form the Catholic Worker movement, an initiative that sought to promote social justice in the practice of political activism, the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and radical hospitality. She opened multiple Hospitality Houses to welcome anyone in need of a place to rest, heal, recover or in some cases, die. She is famously quoted saying, "I really only love God as much as the person I love the least." Dorothy herself lived in houses among the poor as she continued to fight for peace, equality, and social justice. She passed away in 1980.
TAKE TIME TO CHAT
What do you think the people in the temple thought of Jesus reacting the way he did?
What do you do when you feel angry or upset?
Righteous anger is when our anger causes us to challenge something that is not right, but it is not about hurting someone. What could righteous anger look like today?
"I really only love God as much as the person I love the least." What does that quote from Dorothy Day mean to you?
FAMILY FUN
Family Movie Night
Pop some popcorn, grab some blankets, and enjoy a movie together!
Consider picking a movie about a saint (such as Cabrini), about the afterlife (such as Coco), or another family-friendly movie.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Sauerkraut Meatballs
Fall is a perfect time to enjoy this sweet and savory dish!
Meatballs:
2 pounds ground beef
1 cup fine breadcrumbs
1 package dry onion soup mix
3 eggs
Sauce:
1 bottle Heinz Chili Sauce
1 bottle of water
1 cup brown sugar
1 can (14 oz.) whole cranberry sauce
1 large can sauerkraut, washed and well drained
Mix together ingredients for meatballs. Roll into small meatballs and place in a 9 x 13 baking dish. This will make between 50 to 70 meatballs. They will not all fit in the bottom of the baking dish so stack them on top of each other if needed. Simmer together the sauce ingredients for 15 to 20 minutes. Pour the sauce mixture over the meatballs. Bake uncovered at 350 F for 1 hour. If you want a smaller amount, only use 1 pound of ground beef and freeze half the sauce after it simmers.
FAMILY PRAYER
Lectio Divina
Reflect on this Scripture passage using Lectio Divina. Learn more about Lectio Divina under the Family Prayer entry on January 26th.
Choose a reader for the passage below. After each reading, allow a minute or two of silence to let the words sink in. Listen for any words or phrases that jump out at you. After the third reading, pray about what God is calling you to focus on today. Family members are invited to share their experiences afterward. This formula can be used for any Scripture passage.
1 Corinthians 3:9c-11, 16-17
Brothers and sisters:
You are God's building.
According to the grace of God given to me,
like a wise master builder I laid a foundation,
and another is building upon it.
But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,
for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,
namely, Jesus Christ.
Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God's temple,
God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.
LITURGY LINK
The word "corporal" comes from the Latin word for body. The small square linen cloth that is placed on the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist is called a corporal. The corporal's purpose is to collect any fragments from the Eucharistic body of Christ during the Mass.
At Mass today, note when the corporal is placed on the altar and when it is removed.
FAMILY CHALLENGE
As a family, learn more about the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Commit to doing one of these works this week as a family.
FUN FACTS
One of the longest construction periods for a Catholic church is the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain. Construction began in 1882 and is still ongoing, with an expected completion date of around 2026. This means it has taken over 142 years so far!
