It's a busy week over here, so not too many thoughts on the readings this week.  I will let the family meeting slideshow speak for itself :)

Catholic Family Meeting {Prep for Sunday, January 25} - Fishers of Men

It's a little late in the week for me to post our Catholic Family Meeting, but better late than never!  This week's gospel is a favorite  of mine and a great one for talking with the family about what's most important in our lives.  

"Jesus said to them, 'Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.'  Then they abandoned their nets and followed him."

Mark 1:17-18

Jesus offers this to us everyday.  Not necessarily to abandon our family, jobs, or homes, but to abandon earthly attachments and do His will above all.  This is a difficult thing to do, as we live in a world of earthly things.  

What a great time though, just before lent, to think about the things that attach us to this world, that hold us back from giving our whole selves to God.  Certainly something I will be thinking a lot about in the coming weeks. 

Catholic Family Meeting {Prep for Sunday, January 18}

"Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening."

1 Samuel 3:9

Ahhh, I aspire to this quote!  

I wish I was better at listening to God.  

In this age of technology and busyness, God would have to scream in order to be heard in my head.  I realize that in recent years with constant access to internet, that I have turned myself into someone with a fear of boredom and self-created ADD.  

At the first moment of quiet, I don't usually think to be still or to pray, I think to fill it with the next thing on my to-do list or check Facebook or read up on the news...There is no end to the other things that I can fill up my "spare" time with. 

This week's gospel tells of John the Baptist recognizing Jesus as the "Lamb of God" and the first disciples following Jesus.  Can I truly be a disciple of God, if I can't quiet enough to truly listen to Him?

I'm resolving this week to learn how to be "bored" with the quiet moments and to allow God to tell me His will.  

Catholic Family Meeting {Prep for Sunday, January 11} - Baptism of the Lord!

Christmas is almost officially over.  Although I've often heard the Christmas season is finished after the Epiphany, it's still liturgically Christmas until after this Sunday's Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  

I plan on reflecting with my family about the Christmas season and ways to bring the joy of Christmas into our daily lives for the rest of the year.

During Advent, there were a couple week's that focused on John the Baptist.  In this Sunday's gospel reading, we see John baptize Jesus in the Jordan River.  There are lots of fun and simple ways to enjoy this feast with our families, and several are included in this week's family meeting slideshow: