Jesus Leaves Home to Begin His Ministry

When a Child Leaves Home:

Letting Go of God's Gift. 

Leader:
Oh Most Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph; intercede for us who seek your help.

All:
For in you we place all our faith and all our trust.

Meditation:
(Mt. 4:13-14,17) He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. . . From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Reflection:
There is a unique silence in the home when a child leaves to begin a career. But now that it is here, it can be a painful silence; the pain of separation. Many parents quietly suffer this unexpected cross sharing these feelings only with the Lord.

Prayer-All:
Lord, we pray for all parents who experience a sense of loss when their child leaves home. Help them to understand, that their duty is to care for and raise their child in such a way, that the child can go out and serve well both God and neighbor. Lord, help parents to let go of God's precious gift.

Our Father...
Hail Mary....
Glory be to the Father...