Second Sunday of Easter

 

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father

You know our ins and our outs

You know our every thought

You created us; You know our story

May we come to know you better

When we experience the life before us!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

• What does this reading tell you about those who have sinned?
• How does God punish those who have offended Him or His people?
• 1John 2:1-5a

• Do you believe Jesus died for your sins?

• Do you believe Jesus died for the sins of all?
• Luke 24:35-48

• Consider the emotions of the disciples during this reading.  How might you describe what they are feeling?  When have you shared these emotions?
• Jesus opened the scriptures to the disciples…what scripture speaks strongly to you?  Is it the same one or has is changed?  How does this reading challenge you to go out and share the scriptures?
• General Questions for Journaling

• What becomes of those who have offended another according to the world?  What becomes of those according to God?
• What becomes of those who have broken the law according to the world?  What becomes of those according to God?
• When have you had to apologize for something you didn’t do?  What was the circumstance?  Why did you apologize?
• Are there people who should never be forgiven for what they did or said?  What do you believe God says about these same people?
• How do you think God communicates with an atheist?  How are His words to them similar or different to how He speaks to you?
• Where have you recognized God recently?  Were you looking for Him?
• What can you do to find the “peace” Jesus wants for you?  What makes this “peace” easy or difficult to find?
• Closing Prayer          
• ALL:  May we see you in the breaking of the bread!
• Leader:  Let us know are there in the Eucharist;
• ALL:  May you walk with us each day!
• Leader:  Let us know you have the path ready for us;
• ALL:  May we experience your love through others!
• Leader:  Let us know you are within our reach;
• ALL:  May you come to us like the tide of the ocean!
• Leader:  Let us know you will never leave;
• ALL:  May we wake with you in the sun rise!
• Leader:  Let us know you are with us each day;

Challenge for the Week:   Jesus walked the walk and talked the talk.  Jesus’ life on earth is more than a story for us to read in the bible or listen to at Church.  It is a way for us to relate to God in a very intimate way.  Jesus’ life experiences are often highlighted by a heroic name like “healing of the blind man” or  identified by a parable such as the “sower and the seed”; but have you spent time learning not about His actions but about His intention?  Each of these ‘headlines’ take away the humanness displayed in how he listened and cared for the person regardless of their past.  He looked at each person for what they are; a child of God.  He didn’t see the leper’s sores but he saw threw the deceptive behavior of the scribes.  Jesus looked into the eyes of the person and saw their intention.  How often do we see someone and immediately pass judgment?  What action can you take to be more intentional about seeing the Jesus that is within each person?  Jesus is there whether they believe in Him or not; the simple fact that they exist proves God lives within them!