Opening Prayer – 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Creator God
You give us a hunger and a thirst
only YOU can satisfy.
May we come to understand
how YOUR Word is what we need.
Fill us with YOUR mercy and grace;
complete us and make us whole.
Our searching is over!

Journal/Reflection Questions
Isaiah 55:1-3
• What picture does this scripture paint? What images show abundance?
• When have you felt satisfied? Describe the feeling.
Romans 8:35, 37-39
• What keeps you away from God? How do you support the relationship? How do you hurt the relationship?
• How do you remain close to those you love? Those on earth? Those in heaven?
Matthew 14:13-21
• Where is God in this scripture? In what ways?
• How are you called to be like the crowd? What do you have to share with others?

General Questions for Journaling
• What do you thirst for? What do you hunger for?
• What does your soul ache for? Have you ever felt so strongly about something or needed something so much you ached?
• God satisfies. How many ways can you list?
• What is your definition of riches? How does God provide you with riches in your life?
• How do you communicate with God? How does God communicate back?
• How does working on your relationship with God differ from your other relationships? How is it similar?
• What is your definition of the promises of Christ?

Closing Prayer – Words to the song, “Come to the Water” by John Foley S.J.
ALL: Oh let all who thirst,
let them come to the water.
And let all who have nothing,
let them come to the Lord.
Without money, without price,
why should you pay the price?
Except for the Lord?

And let all who seek,
let them come, to the water.
And let all who have nothing,
let them come to the Lord.
without money, without strife,
why should you spend your life?
Except for the Lord?

And let all who toil,
let them come to the water;
and let all who are weary,
let them come to the Lord.
All the who labor without rest,
how can your soul find rest?
Except for the Lord?

And let all the poor,
let them come to the water.
Bring then ones who are laden
bring them all to the Lord.
Pray the children without might,
easy the load and light.
Come to the Lord, Come to the Lord
Come to the Lord, Come to the Lord

Challenge for the Week: In the summer, many of us are guests or host a potluck or picnic where everyone brings something to contribute to the meal. Part of the fun of a potluck is to see what others bring, make a favorite dish or to have the chance to try out a new recipe. Even if there are several types of salads or duplicate dishes, there is always plenty of food and no one is left hungry. There is also always plenty leftover. Imagine how this is similar to the feeding of the 5,000. They weren’t invited to a potluck but they attended one. We hear the story of the boy with some fish and bread who was generous enough to step forward with the little he had to share with the crowd but I believe it was because of his example others contributed what they had too. We must realize that even though we think what we have to give is not enough, when we allow God into our lives and have the courage to step out in faith, He satisfies and completes us. Show generosity in some way this week by sharing with someone what you have to give. Bring more than simply a food dish with you to the next potluck, bring a generous heart full of the love of Jesus and see what miracles happen!

Opening Prayer – 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Heavenly Father
Guide us and teach us
to know what it means to be a treasure
Open our eyes
to the treasures you have given to us each day
Lead us to seek
the treasures you have waiting for us in Your Word;
a heart of gold,
an attitude lined with silver
and infinite wealth.

Journal/Reflection Questions
1Kings 3:5,7-12
• The word understanding in Hebrew means obedient. What are your definitions of the words understanding and obedient? How do they differ? How are they similar?
• How does this scripture passage model prayer for us? Does Solomon do all of the talking? How does God respond? How is this similar or different to how you pray?
• King Solomon is noted as being a very wise person. How does his wisdom show through in this scripture?
Romans 8:28-30
• Have there been experiences in your life where able to relate to this adage of “all things work together for good?” Can you see where God was/is in the experience?
• Does this scripture mean that when bad things happen, God is not there? How would you explain what this scripture means to some who has experienced darkness, abandonment or loss in their life?
Matthew 13:44-52
• What does the phrase “kingdom of God” mean to you?
• How do you hear God speaking to you in your life? Is it a whisper? A shout? How do you respond?

General Questions for Journaling
• Is there anyone in your life whom you would describe as having an “understanding heart?” What qualities does this person have that lead you to this decision?
• How might your community, your job, your school, your country change if it was required for people in leadership to have an understanding heart?
• What do you treasure? People? Moments? Things?
• What do you think God treasures? What evidence is there of your belief?
• Do you think there are buried treasures? Could there be treasures buried within a person? What might be some treasures buried within you?
• How does this statement make you feel? “Your salvation was sold at a great price.” What does it mean?

Closing Prayer – Solomon’s Prayer
ALL: Therefore give to Your servant
an understanding heart
to judge Your people,
that I may discern
between good and evil.

Challenge for the Week: Spend time this week breaking down each request in this prayer. How can you put this prayer into practice so it isn’t just a bunch of words we pray? As you are discerning the actions you should take to bring this prayer to life, pray it each morning, each noon-time and before you go to bed. It is short enough that we might be able to memorize it quickly and add it to our daily prayers from now on.

Opening Prayer – 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time
God of great patience
May we learn from Your Word
how to be more tolerant of our failings
and the faults of others.
Your Word tell us that when we seek You,
the Holy Spirit fills us with what we lack
Help us to see ourselves and others through Your eyes;
Lord, Jesus, make us whole in YOU!

Journal/Reflection Questions
Wisdom 12:13, 16-19
• Is there someone in your life in need of justice or mercy? How can this scripture shed light on the situation?
• What does the act of repentance show of God’s character?
Romans 8:26-27
• Where did you learn how to pray? Who taught you? What did you learn?
• Can you recall a time recently when the Holy Spirit came to your aid? How do you know the Holy Spirit helped you?
Matthew 13:24-43
• What reason is given for keeping the weeds? How does this affect your understanding of love? What are you being challenged to do in your life with this understanding?
• Consider how this parable parallels the scripture in Matthew about the final days when the sheep and the goats are separated. Make a list of all the similarities.

General Questions for Journaling
• Did someone teach you how to weed a garden? How was this done? How did you know which growth were weeds and which were not? How is this similar in relationships?
• Can you identify some of the weeds growing within you right now? What actions do you take to keep more weeds from growing or taking root?
• Do you identify yourself by your actions? Would you consider yourself basically good or basically bad? What is this based on?
• Can weeds be good? What can you learn from the weeds? Do they have a purpose?
• Is there someone in your life which you dubbed a “weed”? Seek the beauty within them.
• Are you quick to judge the faults/weeds of others? How can you learn from God’s patience to change your actions?
• Be honest. Is there someone from whom you need to seek forgiveness? Can you find it within yourself to repent for the wrong you have done, or the hurt you have caused?

Closing Prayer
Leader: You listen to our grumblings;
ALL: Still you answer our prayers.
Leader: You watch us as we stumble;
ALL: Still you pick us up when we fall.
Leader: You see us turn away from you;
ALL: Still you call us into Your kingdom.
Leader: Thank YOU for Your tolerance;
ALL: May we strive to follow your example.

Challenge for the Week: The scripture suggests we “try and try again”. When we fail, we turn to God to repent and then continue to press on. This is difficult to do when we are faced with adversity. Good athletes practice for hours to perfect their skills to become better. Take a lesson from them and choose a new practice to help you get rid of the weeds in your life and be diligent about it. Make a decision to create a new “good” habit. Don’t focus on trying to get rid of a bad one, simply plant a good habit, cultivate it and put your focus on making it grow. Don’t feel guilty if you mess up or skip a day, repent and try again…keep trying each day to grow. In time, the practice of good will help weed out the bad.

Opening Prayer – 15th Sunday of Ordinary Time
God of all creation;
Make us good rich soil for planting so your Word may settle in and grow.
May we find You in each experience even when we must face rocky ground or thorny bushes.
Help us reach and stretch each new day to put forth great fruit, worthy of the kingdom!

Journal/Reflection Questions
Isaiah 55:10-11
• What does this tell us about God’s Word? Explain how this works.
• What is the purpose of rain? How is it a metaphor for God’s grace?
Romans 8:18-23
• In child birth, good comes from suffering; are there other examples of good coming from suffering? Share.
• What is the importance of Christians knowing the message Saint Paul is leaving? How can you apply it to your life right now?
• Should pain and suffering be avoided? Is it even possible? What could come from avoiding pain?
Matthew 13:1-23
• Are there things you add to your live which choke or prick causing you not to grow? Are there rocks in your way which you aren’t sure how to get around? Where are the weeds in your life? How can you get rid of these obstacles or avoid them in your life?
• If your heart was a garden, what would it look like? What would be growing there? Consider the types of flowers, bushes or trees that would occupy your garden and why.
• Is God concerned about quality or quantity? What insight does this scripture give you?

General Questions for Journaling
• Have you ever contemplated the changing of the season? What never ceases to astonish you each time a new season passes into another?
• If God put so much thought into the changing of the seasons and perfected the dying and rising of each element of nature, why do you still doubt there is a plan or purpose for your life?
• Compare your life to soil. What would you be made of? Clay? Sand? Dry? Manure? With what do you fertilize?
• In society today, it is easy to get wrapped up in the “now” and at the end of the day we aren’t any closer to the goals God has put in front of you. Do you know the goals God has for your life? How do you cultivate those goals each day? Are you adding fertilizer to them?
• When was the last time you listened to your heart? What does it sound like? How do you know what your “heart’s desire is”?
• Is there something you are currently hoping for? Is this hope in line with your “heart’s desire”?

Closing Prayer
Leader: We are like seeds which struggle to burst open.
ALL: Lord, may we plant seeds of faith.
Leader: We are like budding sprouts who break through the soil.
ALL: Lord, may we sprout new growth and not be left in the dark.
Leader: We are like leaves covered with morning dew.
ALL: Lord, may we be refreshed by Your Word.
Leader: We are like flowers which bloom and fill the earth with beauty.
ALL: Lord, may our lives leave a beautiful aroma wherever You might lead us.

Challenge for the Week: Make time to search for a moment of beauty in nature for each of the four seasons, summer, fall, winter and spring. You can seek them on the internet, in magazines or books, or even in your own family photo albums. Spend time this week meditating on these four seasons; all very different but all very much the same. What speaks to you in each of these seasons? What emotions are evoked? Are there specific people you think of as you reflect on a specific season? What significance do the seasons have in your life? What can you do to make a habit of recognizing something of beauty in nature each day? Open your eyes!

Opening Prayer – 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Gentle and Merciful Lord,
You call us to be meek and humble of Spirit
so you can dwell within us and make us complete.
May we lay down all we have,
without worry it is not enough
because YOU complete our gift and make us whole.
Let your Word bring us the strength to let go
so we might rest in YOU!

Journal/Reflection Questions
Zechariah 9:9-10
• Reflect on where you have seen this scripture passage come to be in the New Testament. What is the story? How was it fulfilled? Take time to think about each line of the first reading in relationship to the story of Jesus on Palm Sunday. What new insight is gained thought this meditation?
• How does Jesus, the King come to you? How does He show Himself to you? How does He speak to you?(ie. prayer? others? circumstance?)
Romans 8:9, 11-13
• What burdens come from being human vs divine? What benefits come from being human vs divine?
• If the Holy Spirit dwells in you, how does this change your perspective of yourself?
• If the Holy Spirit dwells in others, how does this change your perspective of them?
Matthew 11:25-30
• In what ways do you feel Jesus understands you? Your joys? Your worries?
• Describe what it feels like to “rest” in God. What does it look like?

General Questions for Journaling
• How did Jesus show humility? What are some specific examples?
• Can meekness and humility be good?
• Is humility a quality you want in a leader? Why or why not?
• How can you tell the Spirit dwells in you?
• How can you tell the Spirit dwells in others?
• In what way(s) did you give into desires of the Spirit today?
• How do you take steps to overcome desires of the flesh? What does scripture tell you is the reward?
• When do you feel most burdened? How do you deal with it? What helps to lighten your burden?
• Jesus said we need to learn to be meek and humble. What do having these qualities require us to do?
• Imagine a time when you were exhausted and didn’t have any strength to continue. Describe this feeling. Where did you find strength to carry on?
• What burdens do you carry? Are there burdens you allow others to carry for you? When will you take responsibility for the burdens you allow others to carry?

Closing Prayer – From a sermon by St. Augustine
ALL: O Jesus!
Yoke us to yourself
When we too hunger, give us food.
When we too thirst, or tire, or falsely witness,
just let us learn to fine you and to fine ourselves in YOU!

Challenge for the Week: Come to me, all who are burdened and worried, I will give them rest. Imagine a parent saying this to a child whose bedtime is quickly approaching and is showing signs of restlessness and weariness. These words call out to the child just like they call out to us in order to soothe our spirit. The restlessness melts away when the child is swept up into secure arms; they know they are safe, they are taken care of, they are loved. This is what Jesus wants for us…to let go and relinquish the stress and strain of the day…fall into his arms and let him minister to us. Identify the things in your life which keep you from experiencing this peace of resting in God. What can you do to move the obstacles which stand in the way of this rest?