Faith To Go Podcast: Letting Go
Hosted each week by the Faith Formation team at St. Paul's Cathedral in San Diego, David Tremaine, Maya Little-Sana and Jackie Pippin, the Faith To Go Podcast highlight themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your conversations throughout the week.
Activity Time: Toy Donation
Supplies: Nothing you don’t already have!
Read through the Gospel with your child. Explain that Jesus doesn’t require us to get rid of everything we own, but it can be a really good opportunity to evaluate when we have more than we need. Pick an amount like three, and have your child go through their toys and pick three toys to donate to a thrift store or charity.
Story Time: Gospel Reading and Reflection
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) I wonder who was on their way to Jerusalem.
2) I wonder what the man asked of Jesus.
3) I wonder how Jesus answered his question.
4) I wonder what Jesus asks of the man.
5) I wonder how that made the man feel.
Dinner Time: Seeing Others
Below is a prayer with which to start your meal and then discussion questions to explore this week’s topic with your family while you eat.
Prayer- God who traces my coming in and my going out,
Give me confidence and hope.
Keep me safe from darkness.
Bless those who cross my path.
Help me see your light in all people.
Questions:
I wonder what if there is a difference between looking at someone and really seeing them.
I wonder who is someone that really knows you.
I wonder how Jesus sees us.
I wonder why we value being seen by other people, and having them know who we are.
I wonder how we can look more closely to see others around us.
Bedtime: Reflections for Children at the End of the Day
During your bedtime routine, invite your children into a time of reflection about their day, maybe by saying, "Did you know that God really wants to know what happened in your day today, and that God is always listening whenever you need to tell God something?" Then continue with these questions:
1) What are some things that happened today that you want to tell God about?
2) What is one happy thing that happened today? What is one sad thing that happened today?
3) Did you see God or feel God with you when those things were happening? Where did you see or feel God when those things happened today?
4) Read to your children this week’s scripture selection, then ask the questions that follows.
Mark 10:17-31
As Jesus was about to hit the road, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “First of all, only God is good. Secondly, you already know what you should do. The commandments say ‘Don’t murder, Don’t be unfaithful to your spouse, don’t steal or lie. Don’t cheat. Honor your parents.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have done all those things since I was a kid.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said, “Okay. There’s one more thing for you to do; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.” When the man heard this, he was shocked and went away upset, for he had many possessions and couldn’t imagine giving them up. Not even for God.
Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “It is so hard for those who have lots of things to enter into the kingdom of God!” And the disciples didn’t quite understand what he meant. So Jesus said to them again, “Children, it’s not easy to enter the kingdom of God! In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were confused and said to one another, “Well then, why should we bother if it’s so difficult? How will people like us enter God’s kingdom?” Jesus looked at them and said, “It’s impossible for you, but not for God; for with God everything is possible.”
Peter said, “Look, we have left everything we had to follow you.” Jesus said, “I’m telling you, anyone who has left family or fields or dreams for my sake and for the sake of the Good News of God’s love will receive a hundred times what you could want as well as a life that is eternal. Remember, I told you, many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. It will be completely upside down to what you might expect.”
Did the story remind you of anything that happened in your day today?
5) What are some things that you want to tell God that you are grateful for today?
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: