The Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

God

You created us man and woman

so we can share in the fullness of your love.

We are called to be in community

with one another and in communion with you.

May we not remove ourselves

from the blessing others can be to us

even though conflict may arise.

Let us seek you in others

and build up the kingdom together in love!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Genesis 2:18-24

• What does this scripture remind you about in terms of your role as a human being?
• Does this scripture cause you to think of a woman as an afterthought? Why or Why not?
• How do you rate in terms of being an environmentalist? Do you recycle? Care for animals? Tend to the earth?  What does this reading tell us about our responsibility?

Hebrews 2:9-11

• What does this scripture tell you about Jesus’ love?
• What is the one origin which this scripture refers to?

Mark 10:2-16

• If you read this scripture through the eyes of a child, what different thoughts or insights might you gather?
• This scripture tells us divorce is a man written law, what do you believe God thinks about divorce?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• God created man and woman to be partners. What obstacles does the world create to keep this from being true?
• Eve is created from Adam’s rib. Reflect on the beauty of marriage when the rib becomes reunited.
• Jesus came to be with us…identify how you feel the presence of God when you are alone.
• What can you do to find the Jesus in each person you meet? Is it possible to see Jesus in someone whom you don’t like or who doesn’t know Jesus?
• Would there be need for divorce if marriage was entered into with the understanding of the bond created at creation?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  As we awake and begin each morning…

ALL:  May we rejoice in your love!

Leader:  As we settle into the routine of our day…

ALL:  May we rejoice in your love!

Leader:  As we encounter struggles and stress…

ALL:  May we rejoice in your love!

Leader:  As we celebrate blessings and joys…

ALL:  May we rejoice in your love!

Leader: As we lay down to rest in your embrace…

ALL:  May we rejoice in your love!

 

Challenge for the Week:   Think of a married couple you know and reflect on their relationship through the lens of these readings.  How do they complement one another?  Can you see the partnership between the two of them?

The Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Jesus

You come to us, when we call on you.

You are at our side, each time we turn around.

Never do we have to seek to find you;

You are there.

You don’t turn your back on us;

even when we turn our back on you.

Teach us through your Word

to be a constant presence to others!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Numbers 11:25-29

• Have you ever experienced the Holy Spirit speaking through you?
• Can you identify the message God is sending to the people in this scripture? What do you think Moses is thinking or feeling?

James 5:1-6

• What does this scripture say about what the world says is “fair” and what God says is “fair”?
• What does this scripture say about earning a good wage?

Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

• How do you speak out in the name of Jesus? What is the response when you do?
• Where do you see God revealed in a typical day, week, month, year?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Where do you see the Holy Spirit working?
• Can you determine where it is truly the Holy Spirit and where it is someone “acting” as though the Spirit is speaking through them? How can you tell the difference?
• Identify the gifts you find in other faiths, including the one which you practice. What good things are happening?
• Have you ever tried to make something fair? What was the situation?  Did it work?
• Is it okay to take from the rich to help the poor or is it just as wrong as the rich withholding from those who need help?
• Is there a specific injustice you see in the world and feel called to do something about? What is stopping you?
• Have you ever been in an “exclusive” club or organization? A sorority or fraternity?  Hold a membership card where you receive benefits for being a member?  How does it make you feel when you receive the special benefits from being a member?  What would you do or feel if someone who didn’t do what you did still received the benefits without paying their “dues”?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  We come into this world with the blemish of original sin

ALL:  May you come and wash it away, Jesus!

Leader:  We grow to learn the power of money and fame

ALL:  May you come and wash it away, Jesus!

Leader:  We determine right from wrong based on what we read and see through the media

ALL:  May you come and wash it away, Jesus!

Leader:  We listen to the lies of those who say we are not enough

ALL:  May you come and wash it away, Jesus!

Leader: You give us all we need, let us surrender to your truth

ALL:  May we turn to you refreshed and clean!

 

Challenge for the Week:   How often do we pass judgment on another person simply because they worship or pray in the same way as we do?  What right do we have to judge if a person is good and holy based on the church they attend?  We do not have any right to judge another.  We need to ignore those human instincts to compare and look with the eyes of Jesus to the focus or the truth of what others do.  If they are working toward peace and justice, who cares if they are Jewish or Islam or another Christian denomination?  Just because someone doesn’t worship at the same location in the same way, doesn’t mean they are not serving the same God.  Sure we might have a few or even a lot of differences but when we are working toward the same goal of salvation, does it really matter?  Take time this week and start to break down any walls that have been built between you and another person or a group of people.  Let God’s truth come and tear those walls down so only love remains.

The Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Tend to my heart…

Scatter mercy and joy like weeds

Sow peace where there is turmoil

Sprinkle truth where there is confusion

Spread seeds which take root in YOU

Cultivate in me a pure heart!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20

• How does this scripture paint the wicked? What do they lack?
• Where does Jesus say someone should prove themselves worthy? How does this scripture contradict what Jesus teaches?

James 3:16-4:3

• How do people become people of power and influence?
• What qualities does one need to be successful? What qualities should they have to make the greatest impact?

Mark 9:30-37

• Explain Jesus’ actions in this scripture. Actions speak louder than words so what is He saying here when He takes the child into His arms?
• Share examples of how Jesus modelled for the world how to be “servant of all”.

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Does wickedness exist in the world today? Where?  What feeds it?
• Where do you see evil in the world? What is being done to keep it from growing?
• Think of a time when you acted out of anger or frustration…what were you angry or frustrated about? How did your anger or frustration help or hurt the situation?
• How do conflicts arise between people?
• What causes conflict?
• Do you treat children differently than you do adults? Why or why not?
• What do you do when you don’t understand something? How does it change your attitude?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Do to others as God calls us to…

ALL:  Cradle and console a crying baby.

Leader:  Do to others as God calls us to…

ALL:  Hold the hand of a toddler as he takes his first steps.

Leader:  Do to others as God calls us to…

ALL:  Kiss the scraped elbow of a child.

Leader:  Do to others as God calls us to…

ALL:  Lend an ear for a confused teenager.

Leader: Do to others as God calls us to…

ALL:  Celebrate with a college graduate or newly engaged couple.

Leader: Do to others as God calls us to…

ALL:  Reach out to others and share our gifts and talents.

Leader: Do to others as God calls us to… 

ALL:  Care for an elderly woman as she takes her last breath.

Leader: Do to others as God does to you!

 

Challenge for the Week:   There are things in life which are hard for us to let go or give up such as a family heirloom or cherished gift.  There may also be words or actions which we feel are so hurtful it seems we can never forgive them.  There are many families who end up in feuds over such things and don’t talk to each other for days, weeks, months or even years.  You may or may not have an item with such sentimental value nor have you experienced unforgiveable words or actions thrown in your direction but there could still be something which causes you hurt or frustration in the world, your community or possibly within your own family.  Jesus is teaching us in the scriptures this weekend how to approach conflict and how to deal with misunderstanding.  Take time…make time…this week to reflect on one or more of these things.  Take inventory of what you are holding onto which is causing hurt in your life because of the actions of another BUT ALSO consider how your words or actions have cast out pain onto another.  After you have given it ample thought and prayer, allow God to wrap you into His arms like a child…let that hurt and pain be washed away with mercy and forgiveness.  Allow God to work in you to create a pure heart!

The Twenty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Lord

Teach us to know

when to walk away

and when to stand up.

Let us have the strength

to do what you call us to do.

Give us the conviction

to know your will for us!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 50:5-9a

• This scripture gives birth to the phrase, if God is for me, who can be against me? Which line of scripture gives you the most strength and understanding of this fact?
• How does this scripture tell us to face turmoil or trouble? What attitude must we have when facing opposition?
• Is this attitude strictly for when people oppose your faith or believes or can it be true when facing any conflict?

James 2:14-18

• What does this scripture say about how we should treat others? Is it easy to follow?  Why or why not?
• Look closely at yourself. Draw a diagram or chart to map out how your faith and works compare over the past week, month or year.  Are there trends?  Are there obstacles which deterred them from coming together?  Or on the positive side, are there situations which cultivated them to overlap?

Mark 8:27-35

• The cross Jesus bore was made of wood, full of the sins of those He loved. What is your cross made of?  What do you carry?
• Have you, like Jesus in this scripture, ever been misunderstood by faithful companion(s)? What happened?  How was the misunderstanding resolved?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Consider a time when you lived out the first scripture. What was the situation?  How do you know God was on your side?
• Imagine the first scripture playing out in a movie or play. What emotions would you feel to witness someone turning the other cheek?  How are those feelings different if you were the one who turned your face for another blow?
• What in the first scripture lets you know you are not supposed to simply let people abuse you or trample you under foot? Is it a fine line or a wide divide between what the scripture teaches and physical, mental or emotional abuse?
• Can you identify the “satan” in your life? What is it that consistently causes you to step backwards instead of leaping forward?
• What does it truly mean to “deny one’s self”? Is it like saying no to a fourth piece of pizza or skipping dessert?  Why or why not?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  May we not turn our backs on a person in need.

ALL:  Open our hearts to YOUR love!

Leader:  May we not be quick to judge a person or situation.

ALL:  Open our hearts to YOUR love!

Leader:  May we not rely on what the world says is truth.

ALL:  Open our hearts to YOUR love!

Leader:  May we not use words to strike out and cause harm.

ALL:  Open our hearts to YOUR love!

Leader: Empty us Lord so we may be made new…

ALL:  Open our hearts to YOUR love!

 

Challenge for the Week:   Make of list of well-meaning phrases which mean nothing without love.  If you are paying attention, it is easy to see through body language or hear through tone of voice if someone truly wishes you to have a “good” morning or if they are just saying the words to fill the quiet.  It means much more to you that someone says Happy Birthday to you, even if it is a day late, than a “oh, it’s your birthday? Happy Birthday…”  This is not to say you can’t tell someone Happy Birthday without giving them a gift, but you should give them Christ’s joy.  You are God’s messenger, how are you getting the message of love across to your neighbor?  This goes for “have a nice day” or actually stopping to listen when you ask someone “how are you doing”.  Being Christ’s love in the world is a tough job…are you willing to work to put this into practice at least once a day each day this week?  Who knows it might catch on!

The Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Lord,

Help us to recognize

the hunger within is for YOU alone;

May we know

the thirst which only YOU can quench;

Let us listen

to YOUR Word with our hearts and act on it!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 35:4-7a

• What phrase from this scripture gives you hope?
• Draw a picture of what this scripture looks like to you.

James 2:1-5

• What does this scripture say about how we should treat others? Is it easy to follow?  Why or why not?
• Are there people or groups of people whom you have trouble treating with respect? What keeps you from doing so?

Mark 7:31-37

• What is the reaction of the people in this scripture? How do you think you would react if you had been there?
• For what reason do you believe Jesus told the people to be quiet? Why do you think they disobeyed this order?
• Why do you think Jesus “groaned” before he healed the deaf man?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• How do you celebrate the coming of Christ? What does it look like in your life?
• What do you need to Jesus to heal? Are you in need of healing?  In what way?
• How do you prepare for Jesus to come into your life?
• Is there something you need to be rescued from right now? How do you speak to God about it?
• Has God rescued you from something in the past? How do you show gratitude?
• Does God show favoritism? Why or why not?  If so, to whom?
• Do you think you treat everyone equally? Why or why not?  How?
• Why does having money automatically demand respect in our society?
• Identify the poverty in your life…what has God already done in response to it?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  May we recognize the TRUTH when we hear it…

ALL:  Let our ears be opened!

Leader:  May we see the NEED around us and act on it…

ALL:  Let our eyes be opened!

Leader:  May we act out of LOVE toward our neighbor…

ALL:  Let our hearts be opened!

Leader:  May we speak of ACCEPTANCE and FORGIVENESS…

ALL:  Let our arms be opened!

Leader: May our actions speak of PEACE and JUSTICE…

ALL:  Let our lives be open to YOUR Word!

 

Challenge for the Week:   The Gospel reading says, “He has done all things well.”  What do you do well?  Are these things done in God’s name?  What would others say you do well?  Ask…you might be surprised!!!