20-second Summary
Focus is difficult in our over-stimulating society. Focus on Jesus can be even more difficult. In order to focus on Jesus, we have to either be very disciplined to ignore the distractions, or remove the distractions. This week’s readings give us insight into the amazing ways Jesus will work in our lives if we focus on Him.
This Week’s Mass Warm-Up!
Catechesis At Home – Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A
Focus on Jesus
First Reading
Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter.
Then the LORD said to him,
“Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD;
the LORD will be passing by.”
A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains
and crushing rocks before the LORD—
but the LORD was not in the wind.
After the wind there was an earthquake—
but the LORD was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake there was fire—
but the LORD was not in the fire.
After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound.
When he heard this,
Elijah hid his face in his cloak
and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
Responsorial Psalm
I will hear what God proclaims;
the LORD — for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
glory dwelling in our land.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
and justice shall look down from heaven.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
and prepare the way of his steps.
R. Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Second Reading
I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie;
my conscience joins with the Holy Spirit in bearing me witness
that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ
for the sake of my own people,
my kindred according to the flesh.
They are Israelites;
theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants,
the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
theirs the patriarchs, and from them,
according to the flesh, is the Christ,
who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
Gospel Reading
Alleluia
I wait for the Lord;
my soul waits for his word.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
and precede him to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”
Mass Readings are presented verbatim from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) web site in good faith according its guidelines and under the Fair Use doctrine for educational and commentary purposes. All Rights are reserved to the USCCB.
Focus on Jesus
REFLECTION – Focus, How?
“Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:27-31)
This Scripture passage is familiar to most people, there are multiple works of art depicting the scene, there are casual references made to it, it is a standard story about Jesus in children’s Bibles and Faith Formation material, and we hear it at Mass multiple times. When we hear this Gospel passage, think about where Peter is looking…first he looks at Jesus, then he takes his eyes off of Him, and focuses on the storm. He re-focuses on Jesus as he calls out to Him “Save me!” How does this apply to us? When are the times we take our eyes off of Jesus?
Focus – that is the word for the week.
It is when Peter loses focus on Jesus that he begins to sink. It is in the focus of Jesus on Peter that Peter is saved. It is when Elijah is focused that he recognizes God in the whisper.
It is when WE are focused on Jesus that He can work in our lives more profoundly and we can work with His grace.
Some people have a more mature spiritual relationship with Jesus and find themselves focused on Him more or less all the time – we’ve all known some of these people, they seem to radiate the joy of the Lord. You may live with someone like this (my guess is that it is a grandparent or a small child). We parents, working adults, and teens have LOTS to distract us from our focus on Jesus. Ask for help finding ways to return your focus to Jesus throughout the day. Your family and friends may surprise you in the myriad ways possible!
DISCUSSION – When do you focus on Jesus?
Let everyone tell how and when they feel they are focused on Jesus. Then do the activity below and come back and everyone see if what they said before is really what shows in practice. This is a good opportunity to discuss how perception can be misleading when we think we’re on the right track or doing what we ought to do, but do not have any tangible or hard data to support it.
ACTIVITY – FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS
Each person make a list of the times spent focused on Jesus each day. You can use the forms at the bottom of this lesson and print out a copy for each family member. We have developmentally appropriate forms for younger family members and older family members. Younger folks can simply circle the pictures and color the words. They can also draw or write their own times they are focused on Jesus. Older members can write in the boxes a brief description of what they are doing, where they are (outside, at Church, in my room, etc.), and how long they felt focused. After tracking your focus for a few days (you choose how long to do this exercise), bring your forms to the table (or where and when you choose to discuss). Start the discussion by laying down the rules:
-
- This is not to put anyone down or shame them for not spending time focused on Jesus.
- Only encouragement is allowed, no negative comments (or rudeness of any kind).
- Find ways to help each other become more focused on Jesus.
- Pray together with Peter, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
Starting with the youngest, allow them to tell their times of focus. Allow each person to simply tell the amount of time or times they were focused on Jesus.
Next, talk about why each person was focused when they were (for example, were they praying, were they contemplating Scripture, were they singing Praise and Worship, were they listening to a podcast or story, etc.) Discuss ways to help each other focus better or more on Jesus. Each person may need a different sort of help, so be prepared to individualize. There is a “Suggestions” column on the chart form below, people can write in some of those helps discussed.
DIG DEEPER – Other Focus on Jesus resources from Holy Owned and Operated:
Page: Faith Formation
TWMWU: Fishers of Men
TWMWU: Christmas Day
TWMWU: Celebrating the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist
Podcast Episode: Prayer During Lent – Episode 83
Podcast Episode: Kerygma – Episode 77
Podcast Episode: What is Lent? – Episode 81
What helps you Focus on Jesus?
by Beth & Kristofer Cowles
HOO™ Co-Founders
Other Help on HOO
Being On The Road To Perfection – Episode 166
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:32 — 22.6MB)
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We are called to be perfect, as we discussed last week.
So, what does being on the road to perfection look like?
If Jesus was “finished” and his ministry was “completed,” as it means when He said, “It is done,” by saying, “It is perfected” just before He died on the Cross, He must have walked a road to perfection.
And so must we.
In this episode we discuss that concept, in terms of what we are doing and how we respond to the call for our life.
It’s a simple concept, and a difficult task, but we have the example of Our Lord which, from the proper perspective, is not an impossible example to follow and exemplify.
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