15^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

God of Creation!

You make a mark on every living thing,

the trees…

the water…

even the air.

May my life have the remnants of your love!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 55:10-11

• What makes the ground fertile? What is the purpose of fertile ground?
• Where have you planted seeds and seen growth in relationships?
• What have you done to produce good fruit in a relationship?

 Romans 8:18-23

• How do you live in expectation of God? What can you do to be more open to the present instead of in the past or the future?
• Describe an example of something in nature which groans in labor pains.

 Matthew 13:1-23

• Which part of the sower and seed parable do you relate to the most at this moment?
• Who are you in the parable? The flower? The sun? The rain? The one who tramples? The one who chokes? The one who scorches? The birds? The thorn? The rocks? The one who blocks the roots? The one who plants the seed? The fruit?
• If you are the sower, what are you planting?
• What kind of seed would you say that you are? What do you produce?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• What do you like about gardening? What do you not like?
• Describe what you feel when you see new growth in the springtime?
• Describe how you feel when you see a plant or a tree that is dying?
• What does the rain have to do with growth?
• What does the sun have to do with growth?
• Compare the cycle of rain to the cycle of life. How do they differ?  How are they similar?
• Share a time when you experienced freedom in the beauty of nature.
• What is your most favorite display of God’s artistic side in nature?
• What in nature caused you to be in awe of God?
• Imagine the steps a human would take in order to create a flower.
• How does your live mirror the life of a flower?
• What does nature reveal about you?
• Where are there still growing pains in the world?
• How do you handle unexpected pain?
• What is in/on your path right now? What is the best way to handle it?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  God of heaven…

 ALL:  conquer my fears.

Leader:  God of earth…

ALL:  make straight the path.

Leader:  Jesus, human…

 ALL:  teach me to love.

Leader:  Jesus, divine…

ALL:  wash away my sins.

Leader:  Spirit of life…

ALL:  comfort and strength.

Leader:  Almighty Spirit…

ALL:   tend to my soul.

Leader:  Be mine…

ALL:   forevermore!

 

Challenge for the Week:  There is a country song by Luke Bryan, “Rain is a good thing”.  Make a list of the ways rain brings good things…are there bad things rain brings?  Spend time reflecting on the role rain has in your life, what has rain brought you?  For a Farmer, rain can be an answer to a prayer but it can also be a curse… our perspective about the rain is up to us depending upon our experiences.  No one can predict when the rain will come or how long it will last or how hard it will fall.  However you choose to look at it, consider how God looks at rain.  I think God would agree, like the song says, rain is a good thing!