July August September 2012 Volume 7 Number 3

Transcription

1 LiViNG FAITH Daily Catholic Devotions Kids July August September 2012 Volume 7 Number 3 Living Faith Kids provides a daily reflection based on a Scripture passage from the daily Mass. With Mass readings listed at the bottom of each devotion, this booklet helps children pray with the seasons of the Church Year and thereby grow in relation with Christ and his Church. Mark Neilsen Editor; Julia DiSalvo, Kasey Nugent Editorial Assistants Connie Clark, Kathy Finley, Steve Givens, Fr. Ken Grabner, Maureen Kavanaugh, Fr. Joe Kempf, Karla Manternach, Kathleen Muldoon, Caroline Pignat, Marge Schumer, Amy Welborn Contributing Writers Sally Beck Designer; Jim Burrows Interior art; Steve Bjorkman Cover Art IMPRIMATUR Most Rev. Edward M. Rice Archdiocese of St. Louis 2012 by Creative Communications for the Parish Living Faith Kids is published quarterly in January, April, July and October by Creative Communications for the Parish, 1564 Fencorp Drive, Fenton, MO 63026, a subsidiary of Bayard, Inc., sponsored by the Augustinians of the Assumption. Subscription rates: 1 year, $13 (Canada $17); single copy, $3.75 (Canada $5.25). Periodicals postage paid at St. Louis, MO. Canadian GST# is RT. Printed in the U.S.A. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Living Faith Kids, P.O. Box , Kettering, OH

2 Welcome to LiViNG FAITH Daily Catholic Devotions In this magazine, you will find Words from the Bible God speaks to us in Scripture. Living Faith Kids picks a short quote from one of the daily Mass readings to share. Daily devotions Kids Daily prayer is a great way to build our relationship with God. The reflections in this booklet will help you pray each day with the Word of God. Saints, Seasons and More On holy days and special feasts, we add a little something extra often a puzzle or craft just for you. Enjoy!

3 Reading the Bible Our daily devotions begin with a passage from the Bible. Want to read more? The CITATION (sigh-tay-shun) will guide you to the reading in three easy steps: Book 2 Peter 1:19 1: Book. The Bible is divided into books. Check your Bible for a list of titles. 2 Peter 1:19 is from the Second Letter of St. Peter. 2: Chapter. The first number identifies the chapter. Bibles usually show book and chapter at the top of each page. 2 Peter 1:19 comes from Chapter 1. Chapter Verse 3: Verse. The last numbers tell you which verses to read. Verses are about a sentence long; you ll find their numbers inside the paragraphs. 2 Peter 1:19 is verse 19 of Chapter 1. Ready? Set? Go! Practice by looking up 2 Peter 1:19.

4 Sunday July 1 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time God did not make death God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him. Wisdom 1:13; 2:23 Think back to Adam and Eve. Had they not sinned against God, they would have lived forever in Eden, a sort of heaven on earth. Death came through original sin. But God wanted us so badly, he turned death upside down. The faithful who die join Christ, either immediately (like the saints) or eventually (like those in purgatory). After the Judgment, we reclaim our true, natural sinless identities. Almighty Father, you alone create good from evil. Grant your mercy to the souls in purgatory. 4 Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 Psalm 30:2, 4-6, Corinthians 8:7, 9, Mark 5:21-43

5 Monday July 2 The Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head. Matthew 8:20 Jordan can t sleep. Staying overnight with friends is fun, but his sleeping bag is too hot and the floor is hard. Jordan misses his own bed back home. Jesus knows how Jordan feels. As a baby, Jesus slept in a manger full of itchy straw. As an adult, he had nowhere to rest. Does Jesus want us to feel sorry for him? No, he s just saying that following him isn t always easy. We might have to make difficult, unpopular choices. We might feel alone sometimes. But Jesus is always with us, no matter how uncomfortable things get. Jesus, I know I will always find rest and comfort in you. Amos 2:6-10, Psalm 50:16-23 Matthew 8:

6 Tuesday July 3 St. Thomas Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. John 20:29 When you look at the sky during the day, you can t see the stars or planets, but you know they re up there, right? Same thing with Jesus. Just because we can t see him, it doesn t mean he isn t with us. But we do have some real signs of his presence in the sacraments. Unlike the stars that are millions of miles away, Jesus is right here with us when we receive him in the Eucharist and when he forgives us in Reconciliation. Jesus, I can t see you or hear you, but I know you are always with me. 6 Ephesians 2:19-22 Psalm 117:1-2 John 20:24-29

7 Wednesday July 4 St. Elizabeth of Portugal Seek good and not evil, that you may live; Then truly will the Lord, the God of hosts, be with you as you claim! Amos 5:14 Do you like to swim? Maybe someday you ll be a lifeguard. They re specially trained to help people in the water. When lifeguards are on duty, they re always extra alert for signs of trouble. But they can t work 24 hours a day. No one can, except God. He s always on duty. Whenever you re worried, stressed out or scared no matter what time it is or where you are you can call on him for help. Lord, I know you will always help me. With you at my side, I never walk alone. Amos 5:14-15, Psalm 50:7-13, Matthew 8:

8 Thursday July 5 St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria People brought to him a paralytic* lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Courage, child, your sins are forgiven. Matthew 9:2 Um, Jesus, did you forget something? That s what I d be thinking if I were the man on the stretcher. I d probably be grateful for the forgiveness, but I d also want the cure. Of course, Jesus hasn t forgotten about the illness, so he cures him a few minutes later. But forgiving his sins so the man can live forever with Jesus that s the real gift. Jesus, help me be patient as I wait for you to answer my prayers. *paralytic (pair-uh-lih-tick): a person who can t move because of illness or injury 8 Amos 7:10-17 Psalm 19:8-11 Matthew 9:1-8

9 Friday July 6 St. Maria Goretti [Jesus] saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, Follow me. And he got up and followed him. Matthew 9:9 If Jesus came to your school, whom would he would hang out with? The straight-a students? The class with the best citizenship? Maybe. But more likely, he d invite bullies and outsiders to sit with him. In Jesus time, Matthew was considered a bully. He was a tax collector, someone known to charge people extra and keep the money for himself. But at Jesus command, Matthew left his sinful life behind. He became one of Jesus closest friends. Jesus help me to see with your eyes so that I can see the good in everyone I meet. Amos 8:4-6, 9-12 Psalm 119:2, 10, 20, 30, 40, 131 Matthew 9:9-13 9

10 Saturday July 7 No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Matthew 9:16 Do you have old toys hanging around in your closet? In a drawer? Toys you had when you were two or three years old but don t suit you anymore? Jesus reminds us that with God in our hearts, we re brand new people. Our old bad habits and sins don t fit with the love God gives us as we start each day. With Jesus, we can throw them out for good! Lord, thank you for the fresh start today. 10 Amos 9:11-15 Psalm 85:9-14 Matthew 9:14-17

11 Sunday July 8 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time You shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God! And whether they heed or resist they shall know that a prophet has been among them. Ezekiel 2:4-5 I get so angry when no one listens! I have a good idea I know the answer I have an important announcement but everyone seems focused on themselves instead! This passage reminds me that God only asks me to speak the truth. Then, if others listen and accept God s grace, they can change for the better. Lord God, make me a prophet of your truth. Ezekiel 2:2-5 Psalm 123:1-4 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Mark 6:1-6 11

12 Monday July 9 St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions When the crowd was put out, [Jesus] came and took her by the hand, and the little girl arose. And news of this spread throughout all that land. Matthew 9:25-26 News travels fast especially stories about other people who got in trouble, who did something dumb or embarrassing. Good news can travel quickly too if we want it to. Jesus brought a little girl back to life, and people couldn t stop talking about it. Later, the apostles couldn t stop spreading the news that Jesus himself had risen from the dead. What would it be like if we decided to spread only good news today? Jesus, today I ll share the good news of love and caring. 12 Hosea 2:16-18, Psalm 145:2-9 Matthew 9:18-26

13 Tuesday July 10 At the sight of the crowds, [Jesus ] heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 Most of us have times when we just don t know what to do with ourselves or which way to turn. In this gospel story, Jesus sees people who are like that. And his response is worth remembering: He was moved and felt a deep, loving concern for them. When we re feeling really lost, it may be hard to feel God s care, but that s when God s love is especially tender and close to us. At such times, Jesus wants to hold us and to show us how deeply we are loved. Loving God, help me to appreciate your tender care for me. Hosea 8:4-7, Psalm 115:3-8 Matthew 9:

14 Jesus Calms a Storm On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, Let us cross to the other side. Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Quiet! Be still! The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith? They were filled with great awe and said to one another, Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey? Mark 4:

15 These two pictures are not quite identical. Can you find the ten differences? Answers on page

16 Wednesday July 11 St. Benedict Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! Psalm 105:2-3 St. Benedict, whose feast we celebrate today, lived many years ago. His simple way of life praising God through prayer and work attracted other people. Today, his followers Benedictine priests and nuns are all over the world giving God praise at all hours of the day and night. When we take time to let God know how much we love him and thank God for all that we have, who knows what we might be beginning? Keep me close to you, loving God, and help me to remember to take time to pray. 16 Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 Psalm 105:2-7 Matthew 10:1-7

17 Thursday July 12 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, who took them in my arms; I drew them with human cords, with bands of love; I fostered them like one who raises an infant to his cheeks. Hosea 11:3-4 Although we probably don t remember learning to walk, many of us have seen a baby just learning to walk. The prophet Hosea uses that image to help us see God as a tender and loving parent who protects and cares for us. When things are hard in our lives, it can help to imagine God scooping us up and giving us the warmest of hugs. God s love for us is pretty amazing. Loving God, help me to appreciate your love for me in whole new way. Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9 Psalm 80:2-3, Matthew 10:

18 Friday July 13 St. Henry In my inmost being teach me wisdom. A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Psalm 51:8, 12 There are so many sources of information today, from TV shows to music to video games all of it very slick and persuasive. In the midst of all of that, how do we learn real wisdom and the right values for living? The psalmist today knows: real wisdom, a clean heart and an open, caring spirit are gifts from God. God is the only real source of wisdom because the other ways of living to be cool or to push everyone else out of the way or to get all that you can get, especially the latest stuff never really gives us life or happiness. God of wisdom, help me listen to your guidance in my life. 18 Hosea 14:2-10 Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-14, 17 Matthew 10:16-23

19 Saturday July 14 Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? Here I am, I said; send me! Isaiah 6:8 Just as Isaiah heard God s call to go and tell his people about God s love, so did Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha in a different time and place. Before the U.S. was even a country, she was a Mohawk Indian in what is now part of the state of New York. Between the smallpox, which killed her whole family and scarred her for life, and her Christian conversion, which was not popular among her people, Kateri spent much of her life as an outcast. When she could finally live among other Christians in Canada, she showed them how to live a life of faith. Where might God be sending you to share his love? Isaiah 6:1-8 Psalm 93:1-2, 5 Matthew 10:

20 Sunday July 15 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit Ephesians 1:13 Today at Mass we hear the words of the Gospel, words of Jesus himself and stories of his life. We are blessed to receive this gift each week. Few people witnessed Jesus alive in action, and even today many aren t able to see or hear Jesus in their lives. We are very blessed just to hear those words. Holy Christ, I humbly thank you for counting me among your chosen. Help me to spread your message to those in need. 20 Amos 7:12-15 Psalm 85:9-14 Ephesians 1:3-14 Mark 6:7-13