S12 E23 - Christifideles Laici Chapter 4: Laborers in the Lord’s Vineyard

In this week’s episode, we continue with part four of our study on Christifideles Laici. We dive deep into the role of women and discuss how embracing the fullness of our femininity can uniquely help heal the culture. We also reflect on how the Church is like a loving mother and each one of us belongs and is deeply cherished. Whether we are young or old, a man or a woman, healthy or sick, each of us are invited to offer our gifts in God’s vineyard. 

Heather’s One Thing - Ascension’s Catechism 

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - The song Peace by Bethel Music

Michelle’s One Thing - Word on Fire Bible Volume III (or on Amazon here)

Discussion Questions:

• How can women prepare Christ’s Bride, the Church, for Christ?
• How is God inviting you to see womanhood as a gift?
• What is God’s mission for your family? How do each of your family members participate in that?

Journal Questions:

• Do I feel like I belong in the Church?
• How am I being sanctified by my current season of life?
• How have I diminished my voice and accepted smallness disguised as littleness?
• What is God calling my family to?

Quote to Ponder:

According to the gospel parable, the "householder" calls the labourers for his vineyard at various times during the day: some at dawn, others about nine in the morning, still others about midday and at three, the last, around five (cf. Mt 20:1 ff.). In commenting on these words of the gospel, Saint Gregory the Great makes a comparison between the various times of the call and the different stages in life: "It is possible to compare the different hours", he writes, "to the various stages in a person's life. According to our analogy the morning can certainly represent childhood. The third hour, then, can refer to adolescence; the sun has now moved to the height of heaven, that is, at this stage a person grows in strength. The sixth hour is adulthood, the sun is in the middle of the sky, indeed at this age the fullness of vitality is obvious. Old age represents the ninth hour, because the sun starts its descent from the height of heaven, thus the youthful vitality begins to decline. The eleventh hour represents those who are most advanced in years... The labourers, then, are called and sent forth into the vineyard at different hours, that is to say, one is led to a holy life during childhood, another in adolescence, another in adulthood and another in old age". (Christifideles Laici Paragraph 45)

Scripture for Lectio: 

"Jesus, looking upon him, loved him" (Mk 10:21).

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