Families of Light

“All of you are children of the light.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:5

Challenging the Paradigms
Deacon Tim Sullivan

Here’s an idea for a family fun game that could lead to positive, important changes in the way your family does things. Gather all the children around, identify the paradigms at work in the way the family functions, reverse the paradigms, and see what you come up with. 

Paradigm is a big word for the standard way of thinking or doing something. Eventually, the paradigm becomes so automatic that it is never questioned. So the game I am recommending starts by identifying what the family does that is never questioned, that is always taken for granted.

Here’s an example of a paradigm: “Our family is too busy; we never seem to have enough time.” Now reverse that paradigm, and you get something like this: “We have lots of time. The problem is how we spend it.” See where that takes you. And repeat the process with other issues, like wanting to buy more stuff “if only we could afford it.”

Before introducing the paradigm game, I suggest you have the family read the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12. It’s pretty clear from the Beatitudes that Jesus is a big-time paradigm buster.

“So whoever is in Christ is a new creation; the old things have passed away – behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

BLOGS

Our newest blog posting raises the issue of what essential characteristics of the Catholic faith are missing in the lives of many, many Catholics, not necessarily through any fault of their own. Deacon Tim identifies 3 such elements. Some parishes are working to rectify this situation, but there’s a lot of work to be done.

podcasts

Deacon Tim gave a talk on The Most Chaste Heart of Saint Joseph on June 8, 2021. He describes chastity as more than an aspect of sexuality. Chastity is presented as a function of personal integrity. The talk is especially challenging for husbands and fathers. It can be found on Youtube at https://youtu.be/Lcq7Gr097pY.

Is the Acts of the Apostles in the Bible purely historical? Is the Holy Spirit still with us? Do our Catholic parishes resemble the dynamic vitality evident in the earliest Christian community? What’s missing and what can we do about it? Deacon Tim and Cyndi discuss these issues.

RESOURCES/HOMILIES

Two recent and popular homilies:
Who Are We Missing? May 12, 2024 (The Ascension). The disciples weren’t ready for Jesus to leave them.
Tree Problems. June 9, 2024. Adam and Eve and a house divided. The source of the problem.

CATHOLIC BOOT CAMP

Deacon Tim has developed a series of from 4 to 6 presentations under the title, “Catholic Boot Camp.” They cover the foundations for living the full Catholic life, and include issues which most Catholics would not list on their job descriptions for being Catholic. The themes of the Boot Camp include the following: 1. Why Jesus? His Mission and Purpose, 2. The Church: Its Mission and Power, 3. The Person: Our Individual Identity, Mission and Purpose, 4. The Bible: Essentials Every Catholic Should Know, 5. The Call To Be Disciples and 6. Evangelization Catholic Style. So far Deacon Tim has presented the Catholic Boot Camp at St. Bernard Church in Tulsa, Saint Mark Church in Pryor, Oklahoma and Saint Joseph Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma.