An impatience for refreshment might overtake us now. We may be weary of our lentil soup and fish patties, anxious for sunshine or spring blooms, maybe even short-tempered with the people we live among.  Here at this Fifth Sunday of Lent, we can aim to develop patience and especially to practice forgiveness! It is how God loves us!  Let’s aim to pray, eat, and act with that kind of love: 
 

Pray:

Reread the Gospel from the Fourth Sunday, the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32). Talk about it together. Grown-ups can help younger children to understand by putting the story into their terms: What if your brother or sister ruined a favorite book or toy, but still was allowed to play when cousins came over? How would you feel?
 
But also, what if you made a mistake and wasted something good? How do you hope for your parents to respond?

What does Jesus want us to see in this story?

Talking about the Gospel can help everyone enter into Jesus’ teaching more fully.
 

Eat:

Our simple Lenten meals continue. Build family communion and unity by not only eating together but by involving the whole family!
 
While grown-ups cook, everyone can help:

• Two-year-olds can lay out the frozen fish sticks on the baking sheet, or pop the cherry tomatoes into the salad bowl.
• Three-year-olds can place a napkin at each plate.
• Four-year-olds can set out those plates.
• Five-year-olds can stir cinnamon into the apple sauce.
• Older children can set the rest of the table with utensils and condiments.
• Teens are excellent dish-doers.
• And older family members can keep company or lead the prayers!

 
Meal time is a perfect time to laugh and visit with each other. When disagreements happen or mistakes are made, however, it is also the time for quick forgiveness and special patience.
 
Parents can model acts of forgiveness. Apologize to each other for being late or bringing the day’s stresses to the table. Be quick to offer regret for over-reacting to some spilled milk.

Everyone can be encouraged to look for and compliment a sibling’s good work or generous concern. God loves even when we make mistakes; we can work on loving each other similarly.
 

Do:

Read and watch:

• Petook: The Rooster Who Met Jesusby Caryll Houselander, illustrated by Tomie dePaola
  • This is a recommended picture book for families with young children. It is an authentic, touching book that gives depth to the Easter story.
• Ben Hur(1959), directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston
  • This is a recommended movie for families with older children.
  • This classic film is long, 3 ½ hours. Break it up over the last days or weeks of Lent. There’s much to talk about!

 
Make plans to attend Stations of the Cross and the Men’s Club Fish Fry this Friday, April 11.
 
Make plans to attend the Parish Penance Service on Tuesday, April 15, at 7:00 PM.
 
Remember others:  Our parish food collection continues. Bring non-perishable food to the main entrance of the church or school through April 11.