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!