A Catechetical Tool for Parish Life Gift Issue His Extravagant Gift BY MARY BETH NEWKUMET

y mother has a tremendous eye for where I could possibly wear it. And beauty. So it is no wonder, that when because I have not let myself enjoy M we visit each other throughout the something truly beautiful, I have year, she takes one look at my suburban also failed to express my ongoing gratitude mommy “uniform” and offers to take me and delight of the gift to my mother. shopping. While we are out, she makes My final response has been the least me try on new styles and colors that generous of all. On occasion, I would never have the time, energy I have declined the offer of a gift or imagination to consider. because I haven’t appreciated the “This will look beautiful on fullness of its beauty and value for you,” she insists, as she brings more me. At the time, it seemed clothes into the dressing room. like an imposition. Perhaps Inevitably on these outings, my I was too focused on some- mom purchases something thing else—that dress over that is fine and extravagant— there—which was more to something I would never buy my taste and self-interest. for myself, something way “out But in this final case, I have of my league.” Then she gives failed to appreciate both the it to me as a gift. Just because. continued on page 2

SEVERAL RESPONSES IN THIS ISSUE V OLUME 8, ISSUE 5 Through the years, I have responded in several ways to the offer of such a precious gift. The first, 1 Life With Jesus and best way, is when I have accepted the gift with the same fullness of generosity with which it was 3 Life On Sunday given—to wear that glorious, expensive sweater Gift of Pardon, Gift of Peace while I am driving to the grocery store and 4 Life At Home marvel at its beauty in the midst of the The Transforming Gift mundane tasks of my life. This enthusiastic of Family Love acceptance of the gift always delights my mother and ensures my constant gratitude. 5 Life At Home Sometimes, my response has not been The Gift of Vocation so generous. Seeing the outrageous extrava- gance of the gift, I have focused instead on my 6 Life In The Parish Are Your Priests Gifts? Mary, the first own suburban mommy “poverty” in the face of Steward of Christ the gift’s beauty and value. In this way, I’ve allowed Life In The World the gift to become a burden, putting it in a drawer 7 A Gift to the World and taking it out only occasionally to consider continued from page 1 they have been given, many Are you having trouble fully generosity of my mother and the Christians focus not on him,but accepting the gift of Christ in splendor of a gift that ultimately on the deficiencies within them- your life? Receive one would have brought great joy to selves and the people who sur- of his daily offerings! my life. round them. Like the “poor” Go to Mass on a recipient, they keep the splendid weekday. Listen to him gift of Christ’s life and love in a in the Word. Serve THE GIFT OF THE SON drawer—perhaps only to be worn him in the people In the exact same way, we on Sundays—and then go out who surround you. can have varying responses to during the rest of the week with- Then keep your gaze focused— the gloriously extravagant gift of out enjoying the fullness of his and watch him transform the Jesus Christ. By sending his Son extravagant glory. Where they poverty of your life with the to become one of us, the Father could be offering outrageous extravagant gift of himself. ❖ has offered a gift to the world that beauty, sadly they bring only is radically beyond our wildest more poverty into a world long- dreams for love and happiness. ing for the Lord’s abundance. Life After Sunday Today, Christ’s Risen Presence in Those who experience the least the life of the Church is the way satisfaction in life, however, are President for each human person to fully the many who refuse the Lord’s John M. Capobianco receive a continual outpouring gift outright, seeing it as an Vice President of divine life and love. Through imposition on their lifestyle and Mary Beth Newkumet the work of the Holy Spirit, this freedom. Distracted by cultural extravagant gift of the Father proposals for love and happiness, Executive Assistant can bring an astonishing these would-be recipients stay so Jessica K. Love new glory and passion into focused on themselves that they Theological Advisor our mundane lives. miss the offering of the One who Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete But do we respond to our life wants to infuse his glory into with Christ as a gift, a burden or everything they are experiencing an imposition? The answer prob- here and now. Life After Sunday is a ably depends on whom we direct catechetical tool for parish life our focus! If we intently gaze at created by Lumen Catechetical the gift and the Giver, it is THE GIFT OF COMMUNION Consultants, Inc., a 501(C)3 not- easy to see beauty and Who can show us how to for-profit educational consulting glory. But if we turn the be the most generous recipients? firm that helps Catholic organiza- gaze back on ourselves, the The Blessed Mother and other tions communicate a life with gift will neither be recog- great lovers of Christ were hum- Christ lived fully through his nized, nor fully received. bled by his extravagant offer of Church. @ Copyright 2002. May It is easy to see this life and love, yet they received it not be reproduced without per- reality played out in our own lives with hope in its power to trans- mission granted. and the lives of those who sur- form their lives. As a result, they round us. “Lord, I am not worthy experienced an astonishing com- Lumen Catechetical to receive you,” we acknowledge munion. This communion is the Consultants, Inc. every time we are about to receive only way of life that will ever make P.O. Box 1761 his great gift. And indeed, Christ’s us happy. It is a gift that allows us Silver Spring, MD 20915 extravagant offer of eternal life to bring the perfectly extravagant 1-800-473-7980 or and love will always be beyond love of Jesus Christ into the dis- 301-593-1066 our human capacity to offer back. connected, surface relationships Fax: 301-593-1689 Yet for some, this fact is a tremen- of our lives and begin to live a www.lifeaftersunday.com dous burden. Instead of delight- deeper, more glorious union with ing in wonder and awe at the One them through him.

2 ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ Life After Sunday Gift of Pardon, Gift of Peace BY REV. ROBERT MORDINO

ll good gifts come to us from beauty of the A GIFT FOR SINNERS above. And although we words, “I Our gift of faith A seldom think about it, one absolve you gives us all we need to single gift will often be the bearer from all cast Reconciliation in of many other gifts as well. your sins”. a positive light. Jesus For example, my secretary Joan That gift said: “I have come recently gave me a birthday gift of sublime to call sinners”. consisting of a boxed assortment forgiveness To what does He of garden tools. The results of shrives our call us? To grace. that one gift will be a multitude very soul, To freedom. To of collateral gifts. Through the liberating us intimate friendship. use of those tools, I will be gifted from sin and By faith, we can come with the blessing of a harvest of selfishness. But to see in this sacrament fruits and vegetables. I will enjoy God the Father’s the depth of the Lord’s love the beauty of flowers and the mercy endows us with gifts for us. His suffering and death fragrance of roses. While I putter that go beyond the reality of was the price he paid to become away, I will enjoy mental peace forgiveness alone. What we our Redeemer. and tranquility. may fail to recognize are the In confessing our sins and Much the same happens with subsidiary benefits that flow experiencing absolution, we must the spiritual gifts that come to us from this sacrament that are destroy the false image of a God from the loving generosity of our an essential part of the core gift who condemns and put in its risen Savior, Jesus Christ. And of absolution. place the vision of a Father who nowhere is this truth more God’s sacramental mercy gives envelops us in his loving embrace, evident than in the case of the us the gift of inner healing.It giving us a “spiritual hug”. Sacrament of Reconciliation. endows us with sacramental A Father who whispers soothing graces that will support us in our words of comfort and reassurance. efforts to “go and sin no more”.It In the end, the Sacrament of HIS GIFT OF MERCY purifies our conscience, enabling Reconciliation accomplishes the Scripture describes God our us to love ourselves again as true incredible: it gives us the “new Father as “Dives in Misericordia”, children of God. It draws us into heart” that Yahweh speaks of in rich in mercy. God’s mercy is a deeper intimacy with the Lord Ezekiel: “I will give them an indeed inexhaustible. His gift of which makes us spiritually whole. undivided heart and put a new mercy is so profoundly powerful It reconciles us to God, and to spirit in them; I will remove and liberating, a gift that suffuses those from whom we have been from them their heart of stone our entire being as we absorb the estranged by our sins. and give them a heart of flesh. What a tragic mistake it is Then they will follow my decrees to perceive Penance as a burden, and be careful to keep my laws. JESUS IS THE GIFT causing us to experience fear and They will be my people and I will apprehension. What other prof- be their God” (Ez 11:19-20). his is the horrible root of fered gift causes such a negative This new heart is what allows us “T your error: you claim that reaction? Even fear and shame to fully receive his life on Sunday. the gift of Christ consists in his are God’s gifts. Without these Do you accept the Sacrament example, while that gift is his per- ❖ essential human emotions, we of Reconciliation as a gift or son itself.” ❖ —St. Augustine, Contra Iulianum might never avail ourselves of the burden? Only you can decide. fullness of his life and love.

Gift Issue ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ 3 The Transforming Gift of Family Love BY PATRICK LOVE

uestion: What does a full them, a typical scenario is as fol- Sacrificing for our family is the ice-hockey line including a lows: sister Insults brother, sister primary way we meet Jesus Christ. Qgoalie, a three-on-three bas- Runs, brother Chases, sister Slams door, Sure, we meet him through the eyes ketball game, and a two-pound brother Bangs on door until his ego of a stranger at a soup kitchen, in bowl of pasta have in common? and testosterone refill to suitable our daily prayers, in the people we Answer: My family! My mom and level, Repeat process after door genuinely get along with, and in the dad lovingly conceived one athlet- reopens. It should be no surprise church; but we meet him most inti- ic-by-necessity-female followed by then, when I tell you that Teresa mately when we accept our brothers five boys, the likes of which can and sisters for who they are, because devour most small high school they are “flesh of our flesh,”and sports teams, and a two-pound humble ourselves before them every bowl of spaghetti without blinking day as Jesus humbled himself before an eye. I am the third in line, the the apostles, washing their feet. older-middle of six if you will, and Jesus Christ is unique in I could not have asked for five bet- having the ability to turn our ter gifts in the whole world. Each world right-side-up so that our of my siblings has challenged me problem becomes the solution, to meet Christ in my life, and learn and so it goes with the IRCSBR to accept them for who they are. stages which can be transformed My sister, Teresa, although I hate to: Identify-Reveal-Choose-Sacrifice-Bring- to admit it, has probably had the became an All-Metro Cross Reconcile. With God, the equation is greatest effect on me. Since the first Country Runner in high school, as follows: Sister Identifies problem day I stepped out of that huge yel- while I learned to chase a ball with brother; God Reveals himself low bus in my Catholic School uni- around a court, defending my through sister; brother Chooses to form, with my first gold star sticker ego, as people repeated insults, see Jesus in sister; brother Sacrifices placed proudly on my scrawny trying to slam the ball in my face. (or sucks it up and shuts up); chest, Teresa has always been there I never helped the situation; in brother Brings hatred to Jesus who to ignore the gold star sticker and fact most times I instigated it. It is transforms it to love. Repeat point out the fact that my chest really hard to love someone that you process, Reconciling with the Father was still scrawny. I guess you see everyday, especially if you have a each time, and therefore encoun- could say that we share a mutual natural propensity to repel each tering God’s loving, forgiving love for each other that could be other. It is through these people, presence. Through these intricate superficially classified as hatred! though, that God reveals his love for stages, Jesus transforms what can us. Love isn’t always easy, and some- be true temptation and hatred times it is painful. The greatest gift of into the gift of familial love. ❖ THE IRCSBR STAGES love in the history of the world was You see, Teresa has a funny way also one of the most painful situa- of getting under my skin, and tions imaginable in the human con- GETTING THERE... finding anything and everything dition. Mother Teresa wrote,“True he gifts of the Holy Spirit are: she doesn’t like about me. She’s love causes pain. Jesus, in order to T wisdom, understanding, coun- not shy about saying it either, give us the proof of his love died on sel, fortitude,knowledge, piety, and which has prompted a series of the cross. A mother, in order to give fear of the Lord. These gifts received events that I like to call The IRCSBR birth to her baby, has to suffer. If you at Confirmation can help us live with stages; Insult-Run-Chase-Slam-Bang- really love one another, you will not that challenging other! ❖ Repeat. You may be familiar with be able to avoid making sacrifices.”

4 ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ Life After Sunday The Gift of Vocation

y teenage daughters are It is trying to determine— teenager! “How am I supposed to starting to grapple with the through prayer and the gift of his figure this out all by myself?” one M rest of their lives. Libby grace—how those gifts are meant of my girls asks. You can’t, I tell waiting to hear which Catholic to be used in the time and cir- her, nor are you supposed to. But high school has accepted her for cumstances where you have been if you open your heart to Jesus next year. Kate is starting to placed. Then, it is having the Christ, it will all become clear. look at colleges and univer- faith to go there! sities. Lately, our car rides These are the big from one activity to questions that every FIND YOUR SELF another are peppered young heart is called to “The good that we can with conversations consider. With whom propose to young people is always about their hopes and will you walk for the expressed in this exhortation: dreams for the future. rest of your life? Will Follow Christ!,” says Pope John It is a glorious time there be a spouse and Paul II. “We have no other good to for all of us. children? Or are you propose; no one has a better good As parents, my hus- called to love every- to propose. To say ‘Follow Christ!’ band and I are privi- one you encounter means, above all, try to find yourself leged to be able to with the “freedom of as a person. For—as the [Second steward our two eldest God” in consecrated Vatican] Council teaches—it children through this life (Vita Consecrata is precisely Christ who ‘fully phase in their lives. For #88)? Who are the reveals man to himself and brings them, the road ahead is friends and colleagues to light his highest calling’” (Holy wide open to all sorts of whose lives you will Thursday Letter to Priests, 1985). possibilities. But it is share? And how will the I tell my daughters to pray to astonishing to watch how tasks you perform each day the Lord for themselves and for quickly their view of an amaz- help to transform the world the people who will be given to ing life can be narrowed. With around you? them. I tell them to have great Kate, it begins with the choice Of course, this vocation stuff trust in the Lord’s plan for their of a college with the right major can get pretty heady for a young lives, and to stay close to him that will lead to the right job. through the life of the Church. “What do you want to do?” Jesus Christ does not want you the college catalogues ask. I, GETTING THERE... to use your gifts just to get great her mother, quietly try to jobs, I say, he wants you to have ometimes it can be difficult for press an additional question: great lives that will last forever. S young people to see their “With Whom will you walk?” own beauty. If you have a young “I am the light of the world,” person in your life, make a point Jesus proclaims. “Whoever fol- to tell him or her when you notice lows me will not walk in dark- LOOK AT YOUR GIFTS a gift of the heart. Is she attentive ness, but will have the light of This question is not about to her friends? Is he considerate life” (Jn 8:12). The Lord of love a career path, but about of his grandparents? Does she wants to illuminate the way to the vocation that will quickly reconcile with her siblings? the future so young people can determine everything Does he care well for the girls in move forward in joyful hope. else. What is the true whom he shows an interest? By As the adults who love them, it is nature of vocation? It identifying and nurturing these our great privilege—and respon- is looking carefully at gifts, adults can help young sibility—to offer them the only people grow in this most the gifts you have One who can truly determine important aspect of their received from humanity. ❖ their vocation, and therefore, all the Father who of their happiness. ❖ —MBN created you.

Gift Issue ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ 5 Are Your Priests Gifts? BY JOHN M. CAPOBIANCO he current “crisis” in the are coming forward to expose the Church this year has prompt- criminal behavior of priests in GETTING THERE... T ed me to think about their past, speak about how a the lives of priests I have particular priest was put n many parishes, the current known in my parish. on an impossibly I“Passion of the Church” is leading Since I have lived high pedestal to a true redemption, where parish- in the same in their minds. ioners are experiencing a renewed gratitude for the priests who offer parish for over 40 He somehow them the Sacramental Presence of years, I have quite earned an Christ. Don’t let cultural voices keep an institutional almost blind you from expressing your care for the memory of our God-like trust, priests you know. Like every human parish priests. then, tragically person, priests need good friends. ❖ Growing up violated that with them as trust. I suppose first, and to respect his priests an altar server, it is a manifesta- as gifts from God who had to a “rectory boy” tion of the also strive to live that Gospel just who answered sickness of like everyone else, nothing more, the door and the pedophilia that nothing less. In this way, my phones after school, enables adults parents taught me to love priests, as a volunteer at parish to find and prey not as gods, but as human persons. events, and an active upon vulnerable Today, I hear pundits proclaim member of our parish “teen youngsters who are not that the priesthood does not club,” I came to know our priests prepared to defend themselves. allow men to live the fullness of in a personal way. I grew to their humanity, that celibacy appreciate their strengths, their somehow reduces priests and that weaknesses, and their very human CHRIST FIRST the discipline should be changed. struggle with everyday life. After reading these stories, I This is simply not my experience This memory of their simple often think of so many good of the good men I have known real humanity is a common priests I have known, and I thank and loved. I don’t know if it is theme that strikes me as I watch God for the generous gift of their because of their celibacy, but and read the tragic stories of priesthood. I also thank God for they—more than any others— abuse scandalizing everyone my parents, who urged me to have taught me how to love. For today. Invariably, those who now love the Gospel of Jesus Christ this, I am eternally grateful. By giving their entire lives as selfless THE FULL MEANING OF HIS PRIESTHOOD witnesses to a love that embraces, and goes beyond, everything this n the last analysis, the only priest who will always prove necessary to world offers, they have demon- “I human beings is the one who is conscious of the full meaning of his strated to me the stunning love priesthood: the priest who is a profound believer and professes his faith of Jesus Christ. This love is hardly courageously; who prays fervently, teaches with deep conviction and serves; a reduction of human life. It is who follows the principles of the beatitudes in his own life; who is able to not some fabrication or mere love unselfishly and is always available to everyone, especially the more ideal. It transforms and elevates needy.” ❖ —Pope John Paul II, Holy Thursday Letter to Priests, 1979, #7 everything human life has to continued on page 8

6 ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ Life After Sunday A Gift to the World

he Church is a gift to the whole the gift received from the world. This was evident in Holy Spirit that pours the charity THE GIFT OF A FEAST T January 2002 when Pope of Jesus Christ into the hearts of John Paul II invited the world’s believers, as a mystical force for gift from the Church for our religious leaders to Assisi, Italy, internal cohesion and external A time is the newly inaugurated for an Interfaith Day of Prayer growth” (Christifidelis Laici #32). May 13 Feast of Our Lady of for Peace. Even some of the In gathering leaders of every Fatima. Formerly the Feast of Our hardest hearts in the culture religion at such a tense time in Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, the new feast elaborates on the Lord’s seemed to recognize the Church’s history, the Pope has shown that immanent presence in the taberna- authority to gather people of the Church must continue to cle and in the souls of those who every culture in a gesture of soli- propose the gift that leads to seek him there. God’s gift through darity and hope. human happiness and peace. Are Mary’s Immaculate Heart offered to The Pope has always pursued the rest of us following his lead? Jacinta the life of a contemplative, the Church’s mission to bring a to Francisco the life of a disciple of new vision of human life to the reparation and to Lucia, the life of a world stage. “The Church knows OFFER HIS GIFT missionary—all great gifts to small that the communion received by “Without cost you have children that have and will change ❖ her as a gift is destined for all received; without cost you are to the world. —Daniel LaHood people,” he wrote. “Thus the give,” Christ proclaims to his dis- Church feels she owes to each ciples (Matt 10:8). As members the gift of your self to the individual and to humanity as a of his Body, we have been given people in your workplace, neigh- the gift of Christ’s radical love. borhood or community? Do But we did not do this for our- you see yourself as the “gift GETTING THERE... selves! “It was not you who chose of the Church” to your part of me, but I who chose you,” Christ the world? tewardship is a way of life reminds us (Jn 15:16). Given this Like the Pope, each of us is S that sees everything as a gift truth, we cannot be content with personally called to offer Christ- that can be offered back with love being grateful recipients. Christ living-in-us in every event and to the Lord. In their beautiful pas- calls us to become generous circumstance. Don’t be afraid to toral letter, “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response,” the U.S. givers, as well. In this way we become the generous giver of ❖ bishops have outlined a deeply participate in the Church’s this most splendid gift! insightful vision of how each of us mission in the world. is called to share our gifts out in In their prophetic the world. Sadly, many Catholics proclamation about the have never read this gem. Give gift of the Church to the yourself a gift! Order the pastoral World, the bishops of letter from the United States the Second Vatican Conference of Catholic Bishops Council wrote that and then share it with some man “can fully friends. Perhaps your deeper discover his recognition of everything in your true self only life as a gift can help you offer this great truth to others. “Everyone to in a sincere whom much is given, of him will giving of him- much be required.” Luke 12:48 ❖ self” (GS#24). Do you offer

Gift Issue ÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑÑ 7

support them right in my parish. my in right them support ❖

I thank God I continue to find them, encourage them and them encourage them, find to continue I God thank I

children to meet, to know and respect as a gift from God. from gift a as respect and know to meet, to children

gift to me. These are the priests of Jesus Christ I want my want I Christ Jesus of priests the are These me. to gift —Msgr. Lorenzo Albacete Lorenzo —Msgr.

world—yet very much in this world—remains a precious a world—remains this in much very world—yet for the toy. the for ❖

offer. Their simple priestly witness to a love beyond this beyond love a to witness priestly simple Their offer. Everything is gift. So, don’t be afraid. Remember to look to Remember afraid. be don’t So, gift. is Everything

which allows St. Therese to say, “everything is grace.” is “everything say, to Therese St. allows which

continued from page 6 page from continued

needing” of the radical life and love through Jesus Christ, Jesus through love and life radical the of needing”

Every moment of our existence is this “not-needed this is existence our of moment Every

Do you see yourself as the “gift of the Church” to your world? world? your to Church” the of “gift the as yourself see you Do ■ like a childlike desire, doesn’t it? doesn’t desire, childlike a like

Read John 15: 11-17. Do you believe that the Lord “chose you”? “chose Lord the that believe you Do 11-17. 15: John Read

■

a oei ieti:i sa“o-eddneig”Sounds needing.” “not-needed a is it this: like is love cal

How does the Church show herself to be a gift to the world? (p. 7) (p. world? the to gift a be to herself show Church the does How

this absolute dependence is our destiny too. Because radi- Because too. destiny our is dependence absolute this

n oySii r oal eedn nteohr And other. the on dependent totally are Spirit Holy and their humanity? humanity? their

How can your parish community help priests live the fullness of fullness the live priests help community parish your can How hsi o h iieProsral ie ahr Son Father, live. really Persons divine the how is This ■

What was your experience of priests when you were growing up? up? growing were you when priests of experience your was What are made for play! We are made for not needing. not for made are We play! for made are ■

Do you consider priests gifts? (p. 6) (p. gifts? priests consider you Do eesr.S h isaergt eaemd o os We toys. for made are We right. are kids the So necessary.

any kid receiving a toy. A toy is a pure gift because it’s not it’s because gift pure a is toy A toy. a receiving kid any

the gifts of the heart? heart? the of gifts the

closer to the toy. A toy is pure gift. Just look at the face of face the at look Just gift. pure is toy A toy. the to closer

How can you help young people appreciate their gifts, especially especially gifts, their appreciate people young help you can How ■

vocation the Lord has planned for you? for planned has Lord the vocation us cannot be like the shoes and socks. The gift of grace is grace of gift The socks. and shoes the like be cannot us

What are the gifts that you have been able to steward in the the in steward to able been have you that gifts the are What ■

is a gift. What does that mean? It means that what defines what that means It mean? that does What gift. a is

At what age did you discern “with whom” you would walk? (p. 5) (p. walk? would you whom” “with discern you did age what At

And yet, the Church is telling us that we need it and it and it need we that us telling is Church the yet, And

we need it, it’s not a gift. a not it’s it, need we

How can you bring the gift of Jesus Christ into your own family? family? own your into Christ Jesus of gift the bring you can How ■

Why do you think “true love causes pain” (Mother Teresa)? Teresa)? (Mother pain” causes love “true think you do Why every human being was made for, then is grace a gift? If gift? a grace is then for, made was being human every ■

as a gift? (p. 4) (p. gift? a as through Christ, to share it in our humanity, if that’s what that’s if humanity, our in it share to Christ, through

Who is the person in your family who is most difficult to experience experience to difficult most is who family your in person the is Who

we are made for divine life, to share Trinitarian life Trinitarian share to life, divine for made are we

That is the basic problem of grace and nature, isn’t it? If it? isn’t nature, and grace of problem basic the is That

Do you consider the Sacrament of Reconciliation a gift or a burden? a or gift a Reconciliation of Sacrament the consider you Do

■

That’s an interesting question. If you need it, is it a gift? a it is it, need you If question. interesting an That’s

open to receive the Lord on Sunday? Sunday? on Lord the receive to open

How does the Sacrament of Reconciliation allow us to be more more be to us allow Reconciliation of Sacrament the does How you need this.” Alas! But if you need it, it’s not a gift, is it? it? is gift, a not it’s it, need you if But Alas! this.” need you ■

“inner healing”? (p.3) healing”? “inner

o hn,“u o’ ati. n hnyuha,“well, hear, you then And it.” want don’t I “But think, you

Have you ever experienced the Lord’s gifts of mercy and and mercy of gifts Lord’s the experienced ever you Have

h ie ok tyuadsy,“u hsi orgf. And gift.” your is this “But says, and you at looks giver the

hr,adnwsos n o a,“ o’ atti. And this.” want don’t “I say, you and shoes, new and shirt,

the people who surround you. surround who people the

Describe a time when you experienced the gift of communion with with communion of gift the experienced you when time a Describe the gift you want. And suddenly, you get socks! And a new a And socks! get you suddenly, And want. you gift the ■

an imposition? imposition? an S

perfect toy in mind. So you drop every hint that this is this that hint every drop you So mind. in toy perfect

Do you consider a life with Jesus Christ a gift, a burden or or burden a gift, a Christ Jesus with life a consider you Do

■

and you know exactly what you want. You have the have You want. you what exactly know you and

been given? (p. 1 and 2) and 1 (p. given? been

o, you want a new toy? It’s your birthday coming up, coming birthday your It’s toy? new a want you o, How did you respond to the most extravagant gift you have ever have you gift extravagant most the to respond you did How

Everything is Gift is Everything DISCUSSION QUESTIONS DISCUSSION

FROM THE MYSTICAL MONSIGNOR MYSTICAL THE FROM Ponder In Your Heart Your In Ponder

Lumen Catechetical Consultants, Inc. P.O. Box 1761 Silver Spring, MD 20915 GiftGift