5th November 2017 - The challenges of passing on the faith in the family

On this weeks programme Fr Eamonn Conway joins John and Shane to reflect on the challenges of passing on the faith inter-generationally within the family in the modern world and some ways to approach what can be seen as a daunting task. We have our regular reflection on this weeks Sunday gospel as well as our round up the saints of the week and other liturgical odds & ends.

You can listen the podcast of this weeks full programme HERE.

Passing on the message of the Gospel in the Family

When ever people sit and have a discussion about matters of faith, one theme which comes up again and again is the challenge of passing on the faith to the next generation. 

In a period of time where we have seen the publication of a Irish survey which tells us a Majority of young Irish people feel church attendance is optional; recently Breda O'Brien reflected in the Irish Catholic on the Challenge of building Faith in Lourdes’ young volunteers and in  the US a new book called "iGen" about what Bishop Robert Barron calls "The Least Religious Generation in US History" there is a question about what to do? Pope Francis has given the focus on young people to the 2018 Synod of Bishops which will be looking at Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment.

Fr Eamonn takes us through a discussion looking at how parents and grandparents can deal with this particular.  He makes the point that it has to come from personal witness - the ground on which you as a parent or grandparent stand and being able to show by example that faith is the root of your daily existence. We need to share the love experience we have of God before worrying about the issues of knowledge of faith. Another way to look and see is how do we make space in our lives for family time and for faith time where we are harassed almost without realising it by what Pope Francis called the "technocratic frame around our lives". Maybe as parents we need to show some tough love to remind our young people that there is more to living at the touch of a button and that we need to move away from a desire to live only through technological interactions which can almost tranquillise us in our lives. But ultimately the best way to pass on the faith is through the art of listening to our young people and accompanying them into the questions they are posing about who they are? Why are we here? Why is there evil in the world? And to recognise with them that there are no quick answers to these questions but that faith can help to guide our individual response to them.

You can listen to the discussion with Fr Eamonn excerpted from the main programme podcast HERE.

Gospel - Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,"The scribes and the Phariseeshave taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carryand lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.'You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father;you have but one Father in heaven.Do not be called 'Master';you have but one master, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant.Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;but whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 3, thirty first week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

November 6th - All the Saints of Ireland
November 7th - St Willibrord of Echternach also All the Dominican Saints
November 8th - All the Saints of Wales
November 9th - Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
November 10th - Pope St Leo the Great
November 11th - St Martin of Tours