Focus:

Jesus explains the demands of discipleship.

Jesus calls us to radical hospitality.

Materials Needed:

• Bible
• Candle

Create a special table or sacred space in your home you can where you focus during prayer and your in-home Sunday celebration.  Here is a video on how to do so: https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/2020/04/pop-up-catechesis-creating-a-prayer-space-in-your-home/

Light a candle. Call your family to prayer.

Opening Activity:

Begin by watching the story of Elisha and the Shunamite woman.  You only need to watch to 1:23 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W72gCrRUy-s

Discuss the story.

• What special thing did the Shunamite woman and her husband do for Elisha?
• Why did they do it?
• Have you ever heard of the word hospitality? What does it mean?
• One definition is “the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.” Is that something you have ever done or seen done? Where did you see it? What was happening?
• In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that anyone who welcomes one of Jesus’s followers, welcomes him. Listen carefully when we read it.

Music:

Choose one of the music suggestions below.  Sing together as a family.

Make the Sign of the Cross.

Sunday Gospel:  Matthew 10:37-42

Together read the Sunday Gospel. http://usccb.org/bible/readings/062820.cfm

Feel free to use your family bible or children’s bible. Be creative. Read it in parts. Act out the story.

Discussion:

• What does Jesus tell us that it means to be a disciple of his? It is a big job and it will be hard work. But this is not the first time that Jesus has told us this.  The greatest commandment tells us that we are to love God with everything we have and love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
• Jesus also explains to us in the Gospel what hospitality looks like. Any time we welcome someone we welcome Christ.  Did you realize that when you welcome anyone you are doing what Christ asks of his disciples?
• Will this change how you treat other people when you encounter them?
• One of the saints, St. Benedict, has a special rule about welcoming people. He says, “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.” Are you willing to treat all guests like Christ?” What if it is someone that you don’t care for? Or don’t agree with?
• Jesus says even the littlest should be welcomed and cared for because they are his disciples, too.  How do you make sure that you welcome kids your own age?

Apostles Creed:

Together pray:

I believe in God the Father almighty Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Music:

Choose another song to sing together.

Universal Prayers:

As a family, offer prayers for our Church, our world, your local communities, and your families.

The Lord’s Prayer

Together pray the words that our Savior gave us:

Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Conclude with the Sign of the Cross.

Music:

Choose another song to sing together.

Family Activity Suggestions:

• Make a beautiful welcome sign for your house or yard. How do you make it known that your hospitality is based in your discipleship?
• Research St. Benedict. What other rules does he have that could help your family live as good disciples?
• Read the story of Abraham’s hospitality in Genesis 18. Make a game out of it.  Have family members sit down.  Every time you hear an act of hospitality, stand up.  Or keep track of the actions and see if there are things that Abraham does that you could do for others.

Music Suggestions:

Gathering: Our God is Here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtSnIxnIB3k

Psalm Response: Psalm 89: Forever I Will Sing the Goodness of the Lord

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmWhW8qyzrw

Presentation of the Gifts: Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzJNdXOHLIU

Communion: Miracle of Grace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tg7539_wOE

Hymn of Praise: The Church’s One Foundation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9yNSTt1aXU

Other Web Resources:

Loyola Press:

https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/liturgical-year/sunday-connection/13th-sunday-of-ordinary-time-a-sunday-connection/

The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) (official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and part of Caritas International):

https://cafod.org.uk/Education/Children-s-liturgy

Catholic Mom:

http://catholicmom.com/kids/catholic-gospel-coloring-worksheets-sunday-mass/

USCCB: https://catholicdotbible.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/ot-13.pdf

Strong Catholic Faith:

http://www.catholicfamilyfaith.org/breaking-open-the-word—junejuly—cycle-a.html

Pop-Up Catechesis:

https://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/tag/pop-up-catechesis/