2nd Sunday of Lent

 

Opening Prayer

God of all creation,

You can turn the night into day;

the darkness into light.

You can create something out of nothing;

beauty from the ashes.

Shine your light into our dark places.

Transform our ashes into a new creation.

God you are with us!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Genesis 22: 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

• How does this story speak to you about Abraham’s love for God? His love for his son, Isaac?
• Can you imagine yourself as Abraham or Isaac in this story? Don’t listen to the scripture as though it is a story you are listening to or a movie you are watching, rather as a participant.  How does this change your perspective?

Romans 8: 31b-34

• Where has God interceded for you in your life?
• Is there someone who needs you to intercede for them? Make a plan to do so soon.

Mark 9: 2-10

• They were blinded by the light which shone on Jesus and were paralyzed. Share an experience when you felt God’s presence so intensely you were paralyzed.
• When was the last time you went away just to spend time alone with God?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Can you recall the last time you just sat and gazed at the stars? Where were you?  Who was with you?  What did you see?  What did you reflect on?  When will you make time to do it again?
• How does your life reflect how much you blindly trust God? Is it something you can measure?
• Make a list of things you can truly turn over for God to control. What are the things you still need to control or be in charge of doing?  What makes it hard for you to let go and allow God to be in charge of the actions required of you in your life?
• Have you ever witnessed a heroic act?
• The world controls what news stories we hear about what is going on in the world, they are shining the light on one story to keep your gaze away from what is happening in the dark. What light do you follow?
• Are there things happening in your community, world which need illuminated? What can you do to shine light on them?
• In what events or activities do you experience or see the transfiguration happen in the world today?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  When we experience God’s presence

ALL:  We transform ourselves…

Leader:  When we live in God’s presence

ALL:  We transform others…

Leader:  When we share God’s presence

ALL:  We can transform the world…

ALL:  We are transforming agents of YOUR love!

Challenge for the Week:   If God is for us, then who can be against us?  Saint Paul reminds the Romans to be strong and courageous because God has a great plan for you.  YOU.  This is like the ultimate antidepressant!  So, why do so many of us feel like we are beaten up from drudging through each day, wondering why God hasn’t delivered us from the mess we wallow in.  It’s a fair question.  However, it’s all in our perspective.  Our alarm doesn’t go off so we grumble about how our day got off to a bad start and it just snowballs from there because we are thinking inwardly about all the bad things that are now going to happen to us; all because we got up late.  Imagine looking at it like this instead: The alarm doesn’t go off so we got some extra sleep we’d been trying to catch up on, we hustle to get ready and amazingly we do it in record time because we are not consumed with negative thoughts about all of the other things that can go wrong today, rather our focus is on praising God for all of the good things HE has in store for us today.  Many people hear about God’s promises and think they are too good to be true because they have not met anyone who truly lives their life like they KNOW, “If God is for me, then who can be against me”.  What can you do to become the person who lives like that!!!

1st Sunday of Lent

 

Opening Prayer

Lord,

Empty me this Lent.

Take from me the things which draw me from you.

Remove from my thoughts all that causes me to sin.

I surrender myself to you.

I am YOURS!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Genesis 9:8-15

• What does the rainbow mean to you? How do you share this with others?
• What did it mean to Noah and his family? Does it have the same value to you today?

 

1Peter 3:18-22

• How would you say your baptism has formed or changed you? What can you do to get in touch with the waters of baptism washing you clean?
• During Lent we are to imagine ourselves living in the desert; without water. Have you ever felt parched or thirsty for Jesus, the living water?

 

Mark 1:12-15

• What are the things which tempt you in the desert place?
• How have the angels of God ministered to you when you have been in the desert?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• If you were in charge of giving meaning to the rainbow, how would you explain the shape? The color?  The timing of it’s being visible?
• What do you feel when you see a rainbow? Is there any other feeling you would compare it to?
• Has God used another symbol to express His promises to you? What is it and how is it shared?
• Are there signs of promise you share within your family or with friends? What is it and is it valued like the rainbow?
• What lesson can you learn from the story of Noah? What can you take away from the 40 days or of the dove and fig leave?  How is this story relevant today?
• Imagine a baptism. What thoughts or feelings do you experience?  What do you think God thinks or feels?
• What does water do for you on a daily basis? Clean you?  Quench your thirst?  How does it cleanse and satisfy your soul?
• Can you make time this Lent to spend uninterrupted time with God? What demons do you need to face?  Where does God want you to go to minister to others?
• What conversion do you feel called to this Lent?
• Where is God in the desert you experience?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  A sign of covenant in a rainbow after a hard rain…

ALL:  YOU lead us out of the desert places, let our souls rejoice!

Leader:  A sign of courage in a slingshot facing a giant…

ALL:  YOU lead us out of the desert places, let our souls rejoice!

Leader:  A sign of hope in a star over Bethlehem…

ALL:  YOU lead us out of the desert places, let our souls rejoice!

Leader:  A sign of forgiveness on the cross at Calvary…

ALL:  YOU lead us out of the desert places, let our souls rejoice!

Challenge for the Week:   Lent is a time for us to make a promise to be a better person, a better friend, a better disciple.  God’s promise to love and protect us is symbolized with a rainbow and with a cross.  Spend time this week, as you enter into the Lenten season, thinking about a sign or symbol you can use to show God you are committed to fulfilling your Lenten promise of fasting, alms giving, and praying.  Find a sign or symbol which will help you stay focused on keeping your promise and to remind you God is always with you.

6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Compassionate God

YOU silence every cry, YOU wipe away every tear.

Each of us are bound, bruised and broken,

but throughout history Lord,

everything YOU touch is made whole.

You are the healer and perfector of all creation.

Comfort us, Almighty Father.

Hold us in your arms…forever!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46

• Do you know a leper? Is there someone in your workplace or community whom others have outcast or deemed “unclean”?
• What if your sins showed on your skin like the sores of leprosy?

 

1Corinthians 10:31-11:1

• Do you give thanks to God each time you eat and drink? Consider how many hands your food passed through in order to get to you and provide you with the nourishment you need.
• When do you give thanks to God? How many times on average do you give thanks to God?

 

Mark 1:40-45

• How can your hurt help others?
• Jesus was moved with pity by the leper. What has moved you with pity into action?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Have you ever been outcast because of a physical ailment?
• Imagine how quickly a disease can spread. What can stop it?
• Do you have a physical feature which you try to hide or cover? What is it?  How could God use it?  How can you show God’s glory through this thing you try to hide?
• Can the glory of God spread by touch like the disease of leprosy? Why or why not?
• Are there times when it is easier to give thanks to God? Make a list of times when it is easy and another list of times when it is hard.
• How do you show God glory at dinner? Watching TV?  At work?
• Define “pity”. What is it, who has it and where does it come from?
• Is there something or someone within your grasp that needs a healing touch? What can you do?
• When have you experienced the healing touch of God in your life?

Closing Prayer – Inspired by Psalm 32

Leader:  When my thoughts, feelings and ideas are tossed aside as if

they were nothing but garbage.

ALL:  In times of trouble, fill me with the joy of salvation

Leader: When I am judged unfairly or accused of doing or saying things

I did not do or say.

ALL:  In times of trouble, fill me with the joy of salvation

Leader:  When I am beaten or abused by others words and there is no

where to turn for support.

ALL:  In times of trouble, fill me with the joy of salvation

Leader:  When I run to YOU with my troubled heart and broken spirit.

ALL:  In times of trouble, fill me with the joy of salvation

Leader:  When I confess all of my sins and YOU take away my guilt and

shame.

ALL:  In times of trouble, YOU fill me with the joy of salvation!

Challenge for the Week:   How do you show God glory each day?  Is in your morning or evening prayer enough?  Is praying before your meals sufficient?  Consider all of the “everyday” things you do such as brushing your teeth, driving or doing the laundry.  Make a list of all of the “everyday” things you do and then think of a way to do that same task for the “GLORY OF GOD”.  Then do it!

5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Lord

At times the ways of this world consume our thoughts.

Help us so we may not become overwhelmed or weary

rather, let us follow you; for YOU alone can save.

Let us run to you when we are weak, restless and suffering.

We know your grace, mercy and love never ends;

but how we forget; let us cling to YOUR word to remind us!!!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Job 7:1-4, 6-7

• How can you identify with Job? Have you been in his shoes?  What were your circumstances and how were you able to come out of it?
• Compare Job’s description of his life on earth to how you describe your time on earth. How are the descriptions similar?  How do they differ?

1Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23

• Saint Paul speaks of sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. What are you willing to give up or sacrifice?  How is this shown in your life?
• Saint Paul says it is our obligation as a follower of Jesus to speak the Gospel. How do you fulfil this obligation?

Mark 1:29-39

• Imagine yourself as Jesus in this Gospel. What are you thinking?  Feeling?  How do you process all that happens?
• Jesus asked the people to not talk about the miracles which occurred. Would you be able to keep quiet about a miracle you witnessed?  What do you think is the purpose of keeping quiet?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• How do you respond when you hear, “How can you believe in God if He allows such suffering in the world?”
• Have you suffered through something recently which you have found fruitful in retrospect?
• What kind of hope can you offer someone who is in the midst of trials or suffering? What are some things you can say or do?
• How do you live your life as a “slave to the Gospel”? What can you do to live a life more in line with what the Gospel teaches?
• What are you passionate about? What drives your actions?  Do your actions follow your passions?  Why or why not?
• On a scale of 1-10 how much energy do you use to further the kingdom of God? How much energy do you use spreading the Gospel message?
• Is there some you need Jesus to heal? Write down what you are in need of healing and place it in your bible.  Let Jesus begin to heal you!

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Our humanness causes us to complain like Job;

ALL:  help us to show gratitude even in our suffering.

Leader:  Our humanness causes us to boast when we do good;

ALL:  help us to serve God out of obligation like St. Paul.

Leader:  Our humanness causes us to overpower others;

ALL:  help us to become companions to others like St. Paul.

Leader:  Our humanness causes us to be blind to God’s healing power.

ALL:  help us to make with God to be restored like Jesus!

Challenge for the Week:   Put yourself in the Gospel as Jesus.  Write down what you think Jesus prayed when he went away.  What do you imagine was the conversation between Jesus and God?  Spend time this week having this same conversation with God.  Remember to take time to listen to God’s response and consider how you may move forward with the mission which God has entrusted you with in your life.

AND

Jesus performed many miracles and healed many people in the Gospel, then went off to pray and restored himself.  Imagine yourself as a “fuel tank” or a “bank account”…how often do you run on empty?  What can you do to be more like Jesus?  Be intentional about scheduling time to revive yourself!

4th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Glory and Praise to You!

You surround us with goodness!

You clear our minds of things which weigh us down;

and rid us of the anxiety that can often steal our peace!

You call out the unclean spirits from our souls;

so we may rejoice in your Word!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

• Identify the characteristics of a prophet of God. Do you have some of them?
• Do you believe there are prophets who exist today? Who are they and are they guides for you?

 

1Corinthians 7:32-35

• What causes you to be anxious? Spend some time reflecting to determine if it is all one thing or if there are several things.
• Name the distractions in your life which cause you to not be as close to God/Jesus/Holy Spirit as you desire. Consider what you can do to lessen the distractions that keep you from this relationship.

 

Mark 1:21-28

• The people in the temple where amazed by Jesus’ action. What causes you to be amazed by God?
• Jesus was teaching with authority. What are you comfortable speaking about with authority?
• How can you, like Jesus, speak truth to draw out the demons in a situation or in a relationship?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Are there people in your life which you know to speak only truth?
• Can you identify people whom you believe are or where prophets of their time? Who are people who have created a great uproar in their community or in the world?  For what purpose?
• Where have your created a “mess” as Pope Francis called the young church to do? What do you make “noise” about?
• What can you do to avoid anxiety or worry? Are there steps to help you lessen your anxiety or worry?  What do you need to do?
• Can things other than human beings experience anxiety or worry? What could those things be?  Is there anything you can do to help lessen the anxiety or worry?
• Have you ever rebuked something? Why?  Was it for selfish reasons or for God?
• Has a new thought, process, or idea ever challenged you to change your ways?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  YOU bring us out of darkness;

ALL:  WE ARE FREE!

Leader:  YOU lead us out of the desert;

ALL:  WE ARE FREE!

Leader:  YOU call us out of our selfishness;

ALL:  WE ARE FREE!

Leader:  YOU free us from our sins;

ALL:  WE ARE FREE!

Leader:  Lord, with YOU

ALL:  WE ARE FREE!

Challenge for the Week:   It can be difficult at times to really know if we are doing the right thing in the right way; doing enough for God, the Church or others.  This can cause us much worry and anxiety.  Saint Paul tells us in the second reading that we need to let go of the anxiety because it is not of God, it is of the world.  Spend time this week, instead of worrying about whether you are doing enough in faith, rather focusing on how you are putting God first in your thoughts, words and actions.  Are you speaking and acting in faith to honor God or are your words and actions a reflection of your devotion to the world and its ways?  Be careful however, when we act in this way, we might stir up some trouble, cause an uproar and perhaps make a mess!