08-16-2026 - Fr. Mark - 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time - The Temptation to Lock Your Heart Away

Personal Reflection What has occupied your mind this past week? Have you been dwelling mostly on what is passing and outside your control—or on what is true, beautiful, good, and eternal? Is there something in your life you have begun to treat as something you possess rather than something you have received as a gift from God? If everything secondary fell away today, could you honestly say that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of your life? What might you still need to surrender to Him? For Spouses Are we helping one another keep our attention on what actually matters—God, our marriage, our family, and eternal life—or are worries, schedules, and things we cannot control taking up too much space in our home? For Parents of Older Children or Teens What is something in your life you are tempted to think of as completely “yours”—your future, your plans, your abilities, your friendships? What would change if you began to see it instead as a gift God has entrusted to you? For Parents of Younger Children What are some beautiful gifts God has given you that you can thank Him for today? Jesus is called the cornerstone. A cornerstone helps hold a building together. What would it look like for Jesus to be the most important part of your life this week?  

Questions for Personal Reflection 1. Where in my life have I become familiar with Jesus without actually surrendering that part of my life to Him as Lord? 2. What is one area where I still want to have the final word? What would it look like to let Jesus have the final word there? 3. Am I ever tempted to be my own pope—accepting the Church when I agree with her, but resisting her when she challenges me?   Questions for Spouses • Where do you think we are most tempted to ask God to bless the life we have already chosen, rather than letting Him reorder it? • Is there an area of our marriage or family life where we need to let Jesus be more clearly Lord?   Questions Parents Can Ask Younger Kids • Who is the boss of our family—Mom and Dad, or Jesus? • What does it mean when we say Jesus is Lord? • Can you think of something Jesus asks us to do even when it is hard?   Questions Parents Can Ask Older Kids / Teens • What do you think is the difference between knowing things about Jesus and actually following Jesus? • Is there an area of your life where it is hard to let Jesus have the final say? • Why do you think Jesus gave us the Church instead of leaving everyone to decide Christianity for themselves?