Liturgy and Sacraments

Stories That Speak to Us

Think of your favorite family story—one you love to hear over and over again. Maybe it is the
story of the day you were born or something you did as a young child. Perhaps there is a story
of a relative coming home from war, a story of a parent from when they were young, or
something an aunt or uncle did as a child that provides a hint to their life as an adult.

1. Write a brief summary of that story.

 In the year 2002, my biological father and my mother separated, and my father doesn’t give me
financial support. That was the time my mom was so stressed about how she will give me a life
that I deserved. She wanted to give up. She said that there is nothing good happened to her life.
And then she realized that she had me. I was her inspiration to do the better. And now I have a
good life because of her.

2. What does that story tell you about the time in which it happened? What does it say about
the people involved?
 In life many things will happen to you. Many problems will come, and you must be brave to face it.
My mom experienced being cheated on and many more, but she was the bravest woman I know.
Instead of giving up or whining for the rest of her life about the things happened she considered it
as a challenge. She thought about the things that made her who she was now. Be brave in life
and let your inspiration help you to be successful. I owe my life to her. That’s the lesson that I will
carry always.

3. What does the story have to say to you and your family now? Why do people continue to tell it?
 We rarely talk about my mother’s past with my family now. When she was building our life again,
she met my stepdad, and they had my siblings. We don’t talk about it much, but they always
remind us to be brave in life. We will be successful if we are brave, and we have goals. If we can
continue to tell people about it, we will help them realize the goodness of life.

4. Read Mark 6:45–52, what does it say about the people involved? What does its final verse
say about when it happened?
 God is always with them and they should have courage and to not fear. Avoid being scared
because Jesus said “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” He will help those who are in need and
afraid.

5. What does the story in Mark 6:45–52 say to us now? Why do people continue to tell it?
 We don’t physically see him, but we must always remember that he is there. We can be scared
but not for the rest of our life. We can be frightened because of the world we live in, but we must
have faith in God. People continue to tell it because it can help others to have hope and to endure
pain whenever we are hurt because God is only testing us. He didn’t give us problems that we
cannot solve.

© 2015 by Saint Mary’s Press

Catholic Connections
CLEDU – CA