Best-Selling Catholic Strategy Game Delights Kids and Adults

The Best-Selling New Strategy Game for Catholics!   "With The Road to Bethlehem, families can journey closer to Jesus Christ and to each other as they leave the noise of our world and engage each other in conversations that matter." Fr. Mitch Pacwa, S.J. A fast-moving strategy game that skillfully weaves biblical themes into gripping action, offering hours of wholesome fun for all ages.  If winter doldrums are getting you down, this game will get your family moving and having fun! Families will enjoy a fun strategy game that reinforces the value of Christian culture, virtues, skills, and knowledge. And because The Road to Bethlehem is a table top session game rather than a traditional board game . . .   . . . it can be easily boxed up and resumed at a later time, making it perfect for families with children of all ages. Watch your children discover the beauty of our Catholic faith. Your family will rediscover the beauty of our Christian faith while reconnecting with the Holy Family and the saints. It all starts when the Archangel Raphael transports you back 2,000 years to the time Christ was born. St. Raphael will guide your quest, taking you across eight thrilling environments including deserts, mountains, and great cities. Learn how our Christian culture came to be. Along the way you’ll meet real characters from 2,000 years ago and experience their tricks, cunning . . . and kindness. It was a runaway bestseller in Europe, and now it is the bestselling Catholic table-top game in the United States! Now’s the time to take your family on an adventure-filled journey to experience together a biblical world you’ve only read about – until now. Game Information:  Age: 8+    Players: 3‐8+ Time: 10 minutes per round and 4-6 hours to complete the journey The Road to Bethlehem by Jacek and Ewa Malkowski Tabletop game List price: $64.95  Today's Sale Price: $59.95! BUY NOW Game includes: 1 Book of Adventures (170 pages, full color, leather binding)   8 Encounter Cards   40 Decision Cards   24 Special Cards   55 Archangel Raphael Cards   106 Equipment Tokens   30 Surprise Tokens 8 Personal Progress Bars   1 Time Bar   40 Wooden markers (2 colors)   1 Wheel of TAU   1 Bag of Surprises (cloth bag)   1 Manual (including Quick Start) Order online above, or call 1-800-888-9344 www.SophiaInstitute.com Get one book a month for only $15? Learn more:

More Wisdom from Terry Barber

Only the Son can make the Father known. The visible Son enables us to see the invisible Father. “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” Perfect God and perfect man, he became a child so we could go to Him without fear.

—TERRY BARBER from The Coming of Christ

More Wisdom from Fr. Hans Urs Von Balthasar

Our life is a gift and a giving to others; therefore, it is joy at a profound level. Anyone who seriously makes this idea his own and begins to practice it will find it to be true; he will discover that the will to live it out, that is, to accept everything as a gift from God, can transform our lives right down to its roots.

—FR. HANS URS VON BALTHASAR from You Crown the Year with Your Goodness

More wisdom from Sherry Boas

How often I have wanted to be apart with you, Jesus, on the mountain, but just as Peter, John and James had to come back down the mountain for the work that was ahead of them, so I too must depart from my place of peace and prayer to serve the souls you have placed in my care…. Love calls me down.

—SHERRY BOAS from A Mother's Bouquet

The manly art of raising a daughter

There is a fierce battle happening between Our Lord and Satan for the soul of your daughter. If God is to win, you must do your part as her earthly father to lead her as the Good Shepherd leads us all. You cannot afford to be an overworked, out-of-touch father; you must become the firm but gentle leader of your home. In these honest and insightful pages, author Alan Migliorato draws on decades of experience with his own three daughters in sharing his struggles and triumphs in learning the manly art of raising a daughter. The effort was continuous but the rewards immense, producing just the kind of father-daughter relationships your own daughters need if they are to grow into strong, secure, well-balanced women of faith. You will learn:   How to repair a damaged relationship with your daughter – and even your wife   Why it’s important to know your daughter’s friends – and how to do it   How to teach your daughter to put God first in her life   The three things you must know about dealing with your daughter’s boyfriend   How to teach your daughter to defend herself physically, emotionally, and spiritually   The five signs your daughter is addicted to social media – and what to do about it   The seven things you must do to be a man in the truest sense With the help of the wise advice in these pages, your daughter will grow holier, your marriage better, and your family happier – all because you’ve mastered the manly art of raising a daughter. The Manly Art of Raising a Daughter by Alan Migliorato Paperback — 144 pages List price: $14.95  Today's Sale Price: $12.99! BUY NOW Did you know the greatest saint  exalted by the Church, next to Mary herself, was a father? This great saint is also the most hidden of the saints – a simple and humble man of Nazareth. His exterior life reveals nothing extraordinary or striking. Yet he is the Patron of the Universal Church. In these pages, you'll learn the surprising details about the life Joseph led on Earth in the most intimate companionship of Christ. Drawing not on private revelations or pious legends, this beautiful and edifying work unearths many truths about St. Joseph hidden in the Gospel, to bring them to light and make use of them in Joseph’s honor. Among the things you’ll discover:   What his daily life in Nazareth was like   Why toil and suffering were constant companions to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph   How he sanctified his daily labor, and how you can sanctify yours    Why, without Joseph, Mary could not have become the Mother of God   Why Joseph particularly welcomed the visit of the shepherds   How — and why — Joseph was essential to the hidden life of Jesus in Nazareth    Why he’s known as “God’s right-hand man”    Why his death was the happiest a man has ever endured (and three ways he can help yours be happy, too)    And much more!   Get BOTH books for only $22.99! BUY NOW Order online above, or call 1-800-888-9344 www.SophiaInstitute.com Get one book a month for only $15? Learn more:

Wisdom from Pope Francis

Whereas love makes us rise above ourselves, envy closes us in on ourselves. True love values the other person’s achievements. It does not see him or her as a threat. It frees us from the sour taste of envy.

—POPE FRANCIS from Love in Marriage

More Wisdom from Paul Badde

Then he heard someone calling him from up the hill: ‘Juan, dear. Dearest Juan Diego.’ He then ventured to go where the voice was calling him. He was not a bit alarmed: on the contrary, he very happily climbed the hill to see from where the voice was calling him. At the top he saw a Lady standing there, telling him to come closer . . . She said to him: ‘Listen, Juan, dear, smallest of my sons, where are you going?’ He replied: ‘My Lady, my Queen, and my little girl, I am going to your house in Mexico-Tlatelolco, to praise and serve God as taught us by our priests, the representatives of our Lord.’ She then spoke to him and revealed her holy will: ‘Know and understand, smallest of my sons! I am the ever-virgin, holy Mary, Mother of the true God; the life-giving Creator of all people; the Lord of what is near and what is far, of heaven and earth. I deeply desire that a chapel be built to me he where I can show, praise and testify to him forever. Here I will give people all my love, compassion, help, comfort and salvation . . .’ From the 1649 text by Luis Lasso de la Vega of a narrative written by Antonio Valeriano a century before.

—PAUL BADDE from Maria of Guadalupe: Shaper of History, Shaper of Hearts

Wisdom from Paul Badde

The longing for true unity in spirit and in truth causes one to seek farther. One must follow the way of Jesus, sacrifice oneself, and take up one’s cross daily. This desire leads to listening to and learning from others. It challenges the heart to open itself, to trust in one’s brothers and sisters and put them first, before one’s own ambitions. That is certainly difficult. If the unity about which Jesus speaks and for which he prays is to be a unity built on truth, it needs to be both self-searching and reconciling. It makes amends for injustices and prays for the wounds and divisions in the Body of Christ.

—PAUL BADDE from Maria of Guadalupe: Shaper of History, Shaper of Hearts

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C January 27, 2019

First Reading
Nehemiah 8:2-4a,5-6,8-10
Ezra reads from the book of the Law and interprets it for all to understand.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 19:8,9,10,15
A song in praise of the Law of the Lord

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 12:12-30 (or shorter form, 1 Corinthians 12:12-14,27)
Paul explains that all were baptized into the one body of Christ.

Gospel Reading
Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus reads aloud from the scroll of the
prophet Isaiah and announces that this Scripture is now fulfilled.

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events
that have been fulfilled among us,
just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning
and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,
I too have decided,
after investigating everything accurately anew,
to write it down in an orderly sequence for you,
most excellent Theophilus,
so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings
you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
"Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing."


Background on the Gospel Reading

Today's Gospel reading combines two separate passages taken from the
Gospel of Luke. First we hear the opening verses where Luke establishes
the purpose of his Gospel. His style is typical of polished Greek and
Roman literature. In this passage, we learn that Luke may have written to
a specific person, Theophilus; but the word Theophilus may also be a
general reference, functioning as the phrase "Dear Reader" might in
contemporary writing. In Greek, the word Theophilus translates as "lover
of God."

Today's Gospel reading then skips several chapters in which one would find
the Infancy Narratives, Jesus' baptism by John, the temptations Jesus
faced in the desert, and the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. In
chapter four of Luke's Gospel, we hear that Jesus is in his hometown of
Nazareth, attending the synagogue on the Sabbath, which is said to be his
custom. In this account, we find another important clue that Jesus lived
as a faithful, observant Jew. We will continue to read from Luke's Gospel
in sequence for the next two Sundays.

As Jesus stands in the synagogue, he reads from the scroll handed to him;
it contains the words of the prophet Isaiah. At this early moment in his
ministry, Jesus announces his mission in continuity with Israel's
prophetic tradition. This reading from Isaiah defines Jesus' ministry. We
will find more evidence of this as we continue to read from Luke's Gospel
throughout the year. Jesus' ministry will include bringing glad tidings to
the poor, liberty to captives, healing to the sick, freedom to the
oppressed, and proclaiming a year acceptable to the Lord.

Through this text from Isaiah, Jesus announces God's salvation. The "year
acceptable to the Lord" is a reference to the Jewish tradition of Sabbath
years and jubilee. The Sabbath year was observed every seventh year. It
was a year of rest when land was left fallow and food stores were to be
shared equally with all. A year of Jubilee was celebrated every fiftieth
year, the conclusion of seven cycles of Sabbath years. It was a year of
renewal in which debts were forgiven and slaves were freed.

This tradition of Jubilee is the framework for God's promise of salvation.
And yet in Jesus, something new begins. Jesus not only announces God's
salvation, he brings this salvation about in his person. Jesus is Yahweh's
Anointed One, filled with the Spirit of God. The Kingdom of God is now at
hand. It is made present in Jesus, in his life, death, and Resurrection.
Jesus will send the Holy Spirit so that the Kingdom of God can be
fulfilled.

The Holy Spirit is Jesus' gift to the Church. The Holy Spirit enables the
Church to continue the mission of Jesus. When we do what Jesus did—bring
glad tidings to the poor, liberty to captives, healing to the sick, and
freedom to the oppressed—we serve the Kingdom of God.


Family Connection

Jesus was the one sent by God to bring salvation to the world. Jesus
announced that mission using the framework we hear in today's Gospel from
the prophet Isaiah: glad tidings will be brought to the poor, liberty to
captives, recovery of sight for the blind, and freedom for the oppressed.
Jesus inaugurates the Kingdom of God in his person—through his life,
death, and Resurrection. We are charged with the task of continuing the
mission that Jesus began. Jesus set the framework for all of us when he
announced his ministry in today's Gospel. Jesus also gave us the helper we
would need to enable us to participate in his mission. The Holy Spirit has
been given to us so that we, the Church, might serve the Kingdom of God.

Gather with your family and suggest that they try to picture the vision
that Jesus describes using the words of the prophet Isaiah as you read
today's Gospel, Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21.Think about your neighborhood, your
community. What are the situations and who are the people who most need to
see this vision fulfilled? What steps would be necessary to make the
vision a reality for them? Make a family commitment to pray for the
Kingdom of God and to take a particular action that will address a need
you see in your community. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you by praying the
Prayer to the Holy Spirit.


Sources: Loyola Press; Sunday Readings

Wisdom from Sherry Boas

All too often I forget that your Kingdom belongs to the children and those who become like them. Give me a deep awe and respect for the precious ones you have entrusted to me. Help me understand what a supreme honor it is to see the world through their simple eyes, especially the things of the Spirit.

—SHERRY BOAS from A Mother's Bouquet

More wisdom from Pope Francis

The love [couples] pledge is greater than any emotion, feeling, or state of mind, although it may include all of these. It is a deeper love, a lifelong decision of the heart. Even amid unresolved conflicts and confused emotional situations, they daily reaffirm their decision to love, to belong to one another, to share their lives, and to continue loving and forgiving.

—POPE FRANCIS from Love in Marriage

Wisdom from Dr. Scott Hahn

You can understand why it is that people have trouble believing in the Eucharistic presence of our Lord. Jesus clarifies that it is only through the Spirit, it’s only through the Father calling us and giving us special grace to believe, that we sit here tonight and believe and love this truth. We need to believe it more and we need to live it better, and we need to love it truly so this truth and beauty will get out.

—DR. SCOTT HAHN from The Lamb's Supper

More Wisdom from Fr. Paolo Benanti, TOR, Professor Pontificia Univerita Gregoriana

If we look at real penance, then we will find that real penance is a state of the heart. It's not a series of acts. Holiness is a way to be, it's not a series of miracles that someone has done. So, when you see Saint Francis and you look at him, man of penance, you are to look to his heart, not to the actions that some people wrote to let us understand what was inside his heart.

—Fr. PAOLO BENANTI, TOR, Professor Pontificia Univerita Gregoriana from Sign of Contradiction

What Are You Plugged Into?

In this age of technology, I find myself having to make room in my carry-on bag or my purse for all my chargers. I have two phone chargers: one for the car and one for the wall outlet. My computer and charger take up space, but how could I even think of traveling without them? The number of chargers I carried on this trip got me to thinking about how much importance we put on being plugged in and fully charged when it comes to our electronics.

Heaven forbid we should let our batteries die. Thankfully, all the devices have a warning on them to tell us we are running on empty. I plug it in each night before I go to bed so it is fully charged and ready to go in the morning.

Wouldn’t it be great if people made it as much of a priority to recharge their souls—by plugging into God’s Word, prayer, and church—as they do to recharge their electronics?

Often, we go through our days looking like we have it together on the outside, yet on the inside we are running on empty. It is as if our souls are flashing the red warning light, trying to tell us that we are running on empty. I wish I could understand why we are so quick to keep all our devices charged while we move through life on empty. Just opening a Bible, plugging into God, is a surefire way to recharge us.

Just as we have to rely on our chargers to keep our favorite electronic gadgets running, we need to be relying on God, his Word, and prayer to keep our souls fully charged. What are you plugging into? Is it really working for you, or are you just going through the motions, the bare minimum, so you don’t completely shut down? Are you running on empty while your phone is fully charged?

Today make some time to plug into God with prayer and spend some time in your Bible. As with the other days, Let your time with God recharge you. Like you make it a point to charge your phone, make it a point to recharge yourself daily by plugging into God.

We hope you’ve been blessed by this reading plan based on Kim Chaffin’s devotional, Simply Blessed. Join Kim in finding joy in the little things atheartfeltramblings.com.