IS 42:1-4, 6-7 or IS 40:1-5, 9-11
PS 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 or PS 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30
ACTS 10:34-38 or TI 2:11-14; 3:4-7
The people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
"I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
"You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased."
CONOCE A NUESTRA FAMILIA EXTENDIDA:
meet our extended family
St. Francis Xavier (Feast Day December 3)
April 7, 1506-December 3, 1552
Francis was the youngest child born to a noble family in Northern Spain. He met Saint Ignatius of Loyola while studying at university and they became good friends. Francis was one of the first people to be ordained as a priest in Saint Ignatius’ religious order, the Society of Jesus. His ministry took him to India, present-day Indonesia, and Japan, where he worked to help the poor and preach the Gospel.
Like John the Baptist, Francis was passionate about sharing God’s love with others. He evangelized in different ways for different people, always looking for new methods that spoke to the culture of the people he wanted to help. Wherever Francis travelled, he tried to learn the native language of the people who lived there. While he wasn’t much of a linguist, his priestly vocation was very fruitful; he baptized 30,000 people in his lifetime!
TOMA TIEMPO PARA COMPARTIR
Take time to chat
• John was a powerful preacher filled with the Spirit of God. Share a time when you’ve met someone that has inspired your faith.
• God sent John the Baptist to prepare the people for his coming. If Jesus were coming to your house today, what would you do to get ready to receive him?
• What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire? What makes baptism so special?
• St. Francis Xavier learned the languages of the native people he visited. What language would you like to learn?
DIVERSIÓN FAMILIAR
Family Fun
Crab Sports
In honor of St. Francis Xavier, clear some space in your house and play some crab games today. (See the Fun Fact for more details.)
To play these games, you’ll need to be in “crab position”: hands and feet on the floor, stomach facing up.
• Crab Soccer—Mark a goal at either end of the space you are playing. Divide into teams. Drop a ball or a balloon in the center. Moving around in “crab position” and kicking the ball, try to score in the opposite team’s goal.
• Crab Relay—Take turns moving from one end of the room to another carrying something on your stomach (book, apple, hat, etc.) as you walk in “crab position.” You can see if you can just complete it or break into teams and race back and forth passing the item to your teammates.
• Crab Volley—In the “crab position,” volley an item between players to see how long you can keep it in the air. Items could be a balloon, ball, or scarf.
• Obstacle Course—Set up an obstacle course and walk through it in “crab position.”
OTRAS IDEAS
Other Ideas
ORACIÓN FAMILIAR
Family Prayer
Meditation
God the Father spoke from the heavens at Jesus’ baptism. Listen now to how he wants to speak into your heart.
Invite one person to lead this guided meditation. Play some soft instrumental music in the background. Invite everyone to take a few deep breaths, close their eyes, clear their minds, and listen to what the Father wants to say to them. Read an adapted version of the Scripture passage below, once for each person in the family, inserting his/her name in the blank.
And a voice came from heaven,
"You are my beloved Son (Daughter);
[Insert name here], with you I am well pleased.
Invite your family to take a moment of silence to be with the Father as he speaks these words to you. Share your experience with each other.
