Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Jesus.

Follow me.

Two simple words;

Follow.

Me.

These are the ones you chose.

Let me hear these words.

Let me live these words.

Amen.

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 8:23—9:3

• Where is anguish and darkness in the world? What is being done to bring healing and light?
• Where can you bring abundant joy? What does it look like?

 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17

• Are there people whom you feel you are on the same page? Does sharing a last name automatically connect you?  Does sharing the same faith automatically connect you?  Why or why not?
• When was the last time you ask someone to describe Jesus to you? What did they say?  How was their description similar or different from you own?

 Matthew 4:12-23

• Imagine the scene, draw it if it helps, or find the image online and then create captions of what each of the people in the Gospel story was thinking. Then imagine YOU are there too…what would your caption say?
• What in your life right now do you need to “let go” in order to have a better relationship with God? What do you need to leave behind in order to better follow Jesus?
• Why do you think Jesus called after people to follow him? What was the purpose?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• How is your life different because of Jesus?
• Do you treat others differently because of your faith? Why or why not?
• Where is there darkness in your world? What can you do to shine light into the darkness?
• Would you say you walk in light or darkness? Why?
• Have you ever been overtaken by darkness? Share the experience.
• What in this world would you consider doom? Is there a location?  Describe a place full of doom.
• Make a list of the top 5 or 10 symbols that describe your faith.
• Are there things which you can disagree with someone and still be able to spend time together? What is needed to allow this to happen?
• Are there people in your life or that you have known whom you disagree about something which keeps you from spending time together? What was the disagreement about?  Is it worth not being with this person or these people?  Why or why not?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  From darkness to light

ALL:  let me follow you.

Leader:  From sickness to health

 ALL:  let me follow you.

Leader:  From the center to the edge

 ALL:  let me follow you.

Leader:  From death into life

ALL:  let me follow you.

Leader:  From the bottom of my heart

ALL:  let me follow you.

 

Challenge for the Week:  Are there burdens you carry?  Have you been carrying them around for a while or just picked them up?  Imagine your burdens…each of them individually.  Can you picture them?  Can you feel the weight of each of them?  Now imagine each of your burdens are fish shaped, swimming around in the water.  But wait…imagine a big fishing net coming in and scooping up those fish shaped burdens.  How do you feel as they are lifted out of the water?  Your burdens are just like these fish being gathered and scooped up out of the water…taken away from you.  Will you allow Jesus to take your burdens or do you try to swim after them?  Take time to consider how this feels.