All Saint Day

Opening Prayer

Lord,

You marked us for greatness

and washed us in the waters of baptism.

May we see to do your will

and act in a manner worthy of your love.

Reveal to us your ways

so we can show your love to others.

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14

• How are the people of the Old Testament similar and different from people of today?
• What saints are you familiar with whose lives revealed suffering as a pathway to reward? What do you learn from their experience?

1John 3:1-3

• What qualities of God/Jesus/Holy Spirit do you have in common?
• What qualities do you see in the saints that remind you of God? Jesus?  Holy Spirit?
• How well do you know God? Jesus?  Holy Spirit?  How do you describe the relationship you have with Him?

Matthew 5:1-12a

• Jesus goes to the top of the mountain just as Moses did to share a message. What similarities do you see in these two scriptures?  What value is found in comparing the two?
• Jesus tells us to rejoice in the suffering, how can this be achieved?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Where do you see necessary suffering? Is that even possible?
• Is there suffering which you have grown indifferent to in your life?
• How do you define salvation?
• What does salvation promise?
• How do you wish to be remembered?
• Are you leaving a spiritual legacy behind? What is the message?
• Is there a saint or are there saints you wish to be more like? Whom would you want to be friends with and what keeps you from forming a relationship with them now?
• Which “blessed” do you most relate to at this time in your life? Why?
• How do you reward yourself on earth? What is the reward promised to you in heaven?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Promises revealed…

ALL:  Blessed are we; your children!

Leader:  Prayers answered…

ALL:  Blessed are we; your children!

Leader:  Ransom paid…

ALL:  Blessed are we; your children!

Leader: Peace for all…

ALL:  Blessed are we; your children!

Leader: Sealed in love…

ALL:  Blessed are we; your children!

 

Challenge for the Week:   The beatitudes remind us that even in the bad times there is beauty; remember every rose has thorns.  Take time this week to write your own personal set of beatitudes about your life.  For example, “Blessed are the homemakers for they sacrifice themselves for the sake of their families” or “Blessed are Parents who give of themselves for the sake of their children; contentment will be yours.”  Write 5 or 6 of them to help gain a clear perspective of how your Christian perspective lives out though the things you value and what you are grateful for in your life.

The Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Lord,

We shout for joy because you

heal us,

you protect us

and you provide for us!

Continue to lead us in your Word,

so we may learn your ways

and be Christ to others.  AMEN.

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 31:7-9

• Who are the burdened and downtrodden in this scripture? How does God provide them with support?
• Where do you find security in this scripture? How is it or how can it be played out in your life?

Hebrews 5:1-6

• What can you learn from this scripture about dealing with people who try your patience?
• What does this scripture say about weakness? What are your weaknesses?

Mark 10:46-52

• What do you say when you cry out to Jesus?
• Are you persistent in making your desires known to God? What do you do about making your needs known and then acting on them?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Where do you seek consolation?
• Who comes to you for support when they are weary? What do you offer?  Is it too much?  Is it not enough?  How do you know it is what they need?
• Have you ever felt the path you are on has too many curves or bumps? What can be done to level out the road a bit?  How can you help yourself with this task?  What can you do for others?
• When did you recently sacrifice something for another person’s good? When has someone done the same for you?  Has this happened with or without regret or expectation?
• Make a list of 5-10 good qualities you possess which would draw people to you.
• When someone comes to your for counsel, do you look for how you will benefit or how they will benefit? OR do you turn to the Holy Spirit for guidance in the counsel you give?  What does this look like?
• Jesus stood up for you and died for your sins; who do you stand up for? How do you let them know you stand up for them even in their weakness?
• Are there people who refuse to “be quiet” in your life or in the community? Do they stay on one topic or do they harp on many?  What do you think their goal is?
• Where do you see Jesus working today? What is He doing to shout out the message of forgiveness, mercy and healing?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Jesus, have pity on me and restore my soul

ALL:  for I am weak.

Leader:  Jesus, have pity on me and restore my soul

ALL:  for I am blind.

Leader:  Jesus, have pity on me and restore my soul

ALL:  for I am crippled.

Leader: Jesus, have pity on me and restore my soul

ALL:  for I am ignorant.

Leader: Jesus, have pity on me and restore my soul

ALL:  for I am a sinner.

 

Challenge for the Week:   Take time this week to think about what it would be like to be blind.  How would you feel?  How might you be different?  How would you define the word see if you were blind, not having the experience of knowing what it truly was?  Then spend time considering what makes you “blind”?  What keeps you from seeing the positive in people or situations rather than the negative?  What things in your life or within yourself do you refuse to see and change?  How much time and effort do you spend trying to keep these things hidden from others, from God?  Pray…”Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”

The Twenty-Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Infinite God

You know us because you created us

You understand us because you became one of us

You have felt our pain,

You know what it feels like to weep,

You hold us dear to your heart despite our failings

YOU ARE LOVE!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 53:10-11

• What good can come from suffering?
• Have you ever wanted to take the place of another person who was suffering? Why?  What was the situation?

 

Hebrews 4:14-16

• How does this scripture make you feel?
• When do you recall Jesus showing weakness? When did he suffer?  What makes you know Jesus understands us when we have done wrong?

 

Mark 10:35-45

• When have you been like the disciples and not understood what you were truly asking?
• How does Jesus try to explain? Do they come to understand?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Consider a time when suffering with someone caused healing?
• How does suffering through something cause you to draw closer to God? How does it separate you?
• What miracles does God allow through suffering?
• When was the last time you felt you were being tested? Who was testing you?
• What does it mean to sympathize with someone?
• Do you know anyone who is good at showing sympathy? What does it look like?
• Why do you think it is fun to be “king of the mountain”? What do you think about when you are the one in charge?
• Who do you know is a good example of being a servant to others? Anyone in the community?  Your family?
• Are there things worth fighting for? Worth suffering for?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Moses an abandoned child and Leader of the Israelites.

ALL:  Through suffering, YOU are light

Leader:  Joseph imprisoned and champion of dreams.

ALL:  Through suffering, YOU are light

Leader:  Jesus crucified and resurrected.

ALL:  Through suffering, YOU are light

Leader:  Peter denied and head of the Church.

ALL:  Through suffering, YOU are light

Leader: Destruction of the world and a brilliant sunrise.

ALL:  Through suffering, YOU are light

 

Challenge for the Week:   The corporate ladder coined the phrase to “one up” someone which meant to move up a rung of the ladder ahead of another.  This type of competition isn’t anything new to human nature, it happened with the disciples and even the sons of Adam and Eve!  There is always someone who thinks they are better or smarter or better looking; they believe they deserve the high praise and recognition but Jesus is saying the one who deserves to live in the kingdom is the one who suffers.  Since it is human nature for us to compare ourselves to one another, watch yourself this week.  When you think someone did a better job than you, tell them.  If there is someone who is having a good hair day, let them know.  Recognizing and acknowledging the good of others is a practice of humility and that can be pretty painful.  And remember, Jesus isn’t asking us to suffer alone…He knows how we feel, He has been there!

The Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Lord,

Break the chains which bind us

Defeat the giants which block our path

Overcome our fears and judgments

Wipe away our selfish thoughts

Soften our hard hearts

So we may better follow YOU

And share YOUR love with others!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Wisdom 7:7-11

• For what do you pray? How does God respond to your prayers?
• Can you identify with the emotion expressed in this scripture? To what could you compare it?

 

Hebrews 4:12-13

• This scripture reminds us God sees everything we do and knows everything we think…how does this change your daily prayer?
• Our instinct like Adam and Eve is to try to cover up our wrong doing. What might happen if you didn’t cover up what you did wrong?

 

Mark 10:17-30

• How do you relate to the Rich Man? When have you felt God ask you to do something you were not ready to do?
• Does this scripture tell us God wants us to REALLY give up everything to follow Him? What is the ultimate message here?
• Have you ever been discouraged like the Rich Man in the Gospel reading because you have been faithful but Jesus continues to ask for more from you?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Reflect on your prayers; are they the same each day?
• Are your prayers specific or general?
• Do you plead with God only when you are in trouble?
• How are pleading and begging the same or different? Can you bargain with God?
• When did you last rejoice in God? How was your joy spread to others?
• What is your process for making decisions? Where does God fit into your discernment?
• Who can be saved? What does it mean to be saved?
• Do you think anyone can ever stop being good? Honest?  Faithful?
• How do you pass on your faith to others?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  May I seek out where YOU lead…

ALL:  Fill my spirit with WISDOM!

Leader:  May I be glad today and everyday…

ALL:  Fill my spirit with REJOICING!

Leader:  May I reach out to others…

ALL:  Fill my spirit with KINDNESS!

Leader:  May I sing YOUR praises…

ALL:  Fill my spirit with CELEBRATION!

Leader: May I follow YOUR heart…

ALL:  Fill my spirit with LOVE!

 

Challenge for the Week:   Identify one thing which is keeping you from giving yourself completely to Jesus?  What it is that you just can’t let go of or stands in your way of fully embracing the life God intended for you to live?  Jesus says to let go and follow me.  Consider how you feel when you don’t have someone’s full attention; perhaps a child when you are disciplining them or a spouse when you are sharing about the ups and downs of your day.  This must be how God feels when he is speaking to us and sharing His desires with us.  This week work on shedding ONE obstacle which causes you to not be in full communion with Jesus.  Work on breaking the habit and creating a new one which keeps you on the path toward a better relationship with God, the ultimate JOY!