Newsletter – Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A.

REFLECTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE – by Lisa-Marie Calderone-Stewart

This Gospel reading urges us not to use abusive language and not to remain angry with our brothers and sisters.

• Do you have any brothers or sisters? If so, how do you get along? Do you ever exchange angry words? How do you reconcile?

• How about your parents or guardians – how do you get along with them? What happens after angry words?

• How about your friends – do you ever exchange angry words with them? How do you reconcile?

• Are your tolerance level and your apology style with your friends different from those with your brothers and sisters or with your parents or guardians? If so, how do they differ?

A lot of rage and violence are expressed in songs on the radio and in movies and TV shows. Many teenagers prefer to claim that watching violent shows or listening to violent songs has no connection to the violence in our world, but many others know better.

• What parallel do you see between the amount of violence and rage in the media and the amount of violence in the real world? What is the connection?

• What do you know of ‘copycat crimes’ that have occurred because someone is imitating an act seen on television, in the movies or in the news?

• How is Jesus’ warning to avoid not only murder but even anger related to the level of violence in today’s world?

© St Mary’s Press