26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Lord,

Each step we take,

whether we walk towards you

or away,

YOU ARE WITH US!

We are tied to eternally.

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Ezekiel 18:25-28

• Explain how a person who lives without sin does not die.
• What do you believe is not fair about following God?

 Philippians 2:1-11 or 2:1-5

• What encouragement do you hear in this scripture? What specifically is St Paul saying directly to you?
• How do you confess your sin?
• What can you learn from Jesus’ example of humility?
• God’s joy is complete when we are of one mind with him. What can you do to work towards making God’s joy complete?

 Matthew 21:28-32 

• How would you judge the two sons in this parable? How does God judge them?
• How is this a story about turning to God? What is the conversion?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Is there something wicked in your life? Does it linger?  Does it fester?  Are you comforted by it?
• What helps you turn away from sin?
• Are there things which tempt you that you need to seek help from others/from God to conquer?
• Are there things you know are sins but you do them anyways?
• What is the hardest part about being obedient to God?
• How can you tell the difference between people who are doing good for their own glory and those who are doing good for the glory of God?
• Do you compare your “holiness” or your “faithfulness” to that of another? What conclusion do you come to?
• What signs of reverence do you show to God?
• Are you better at good words or good deeds? Share examples of both.
• Do words and deeds go hand in hand? Why or why not?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Lord, change our hearts

 ALL:  help me reach out with compassion.

Leader: Lord, change our hearts

ALL:  help me to be patient with others.

Leader:  Lord, change our hearts

 ALL:  help me care for my neighbor.

Leader:  Lord, change our hearts

ALL:  help me to share my faith.

Leader:  Lord, change our hearts

ALL:  help me to turn to you.

Leader:  Lord, change our hearts

ALL:   and always follow your Word.

 

Challenge for the Week:  When was the last time you tried to something new?  Was it easy or difficult to learn the new skill?  What about learning a new way to do something?  How did it feel to do the task differently?  We can get stuck in our ways and routines and not really give a new way a chance.  God wants us to turn to him and we must change some of our ways in order to get closer to him.  We can get stubborn or find change too difficult and then give up, turning back to our own ways.  However, the scriptures this week clearly state that there is peace and joy waiting for us when we turn our lives over to God.  What steps are you willing to take to turn to God?

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Father,

When you look at me,

what do you see?

You do not see me

the way the world does.

You do not see me

the way I see myself.

You see me

as I was created to be.

Help me to be

the me you see!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 55:6-9

• When have you felt God’s mercy? Be specific.
• How does God help you let go of wicked thoughts?
• How do you know God is near?

 Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a

• How do you live your life according to the Gospel? What does this mean?
• What specifically can you do to live the according to the Gospel?
• What does St. Paul mean that “death is gain”?

 Matthew 20:1-16a

• Where do you see yourself in the parable? Take time to reflect on each person’s perspective.  Include the workers, the landowner and those who were not chosen to work.
• How does this parable show justice/injustice?
• What insight do you gain about God’s thoughts?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Where do you find God throughout the day?
• When you find God during the day, do you keep Him to yourself or share Him with others?
• Is it possible to know what God thinks? Why or why not?
• How do you seek forgiveness from God? What does it look like?
• How do you seek forgiveness from others? Make a list of ways.
• How do you give forgiveness? Make a list of ways.
• Jesus lived on earth in the flesh, how does his example teach us to live? What one thing can you work on to be more like Jesus?
• Do you know someone who “magnifies” Christ?
• How do you “magnify” Christ?
• Where do see injustice today?
• How do you respond when you feel something is unfair?
• How do you respond when you feel something is in your favor?
• Who makes the rules of fair and unfair?
• How can you teach a child to understand God’s definition of fair?
• Are you standing idle or working?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  I am a laborer in God’s vineyard…

 ALL:  let me show others mercy!

Leader: I am a laborer in God’s vineyard…

ALL:  let me show others generosity!

Leader:  I am a laborer in God’s vineyard…

 ALL:  let me show others forgiveness!

Leader:  I am a laborer in God’s vineyard…

ALL:  let me show others love!

Leader:  I am a laborer in God’s vineyard…

ALL:  let me show others justice!

Leader:  I am a laborer in God’s vineyard…

ALL:   let me show others CHRIST!

 

Challenge for the Week:  How you live your life today matters.  The decisions you make sometimes may seem simple but those are the decisions that form and shape your life.  What is the message that you want to leave when your life if over?  What do you want people to remember?  God created you for a purpose and called you to love Him and love others.  When your decisions each day are made through the focus of loving God and loving others, then that love will shine through and be what people remember when you are gone.  Is this the legacy you are leaving behind?  God is right there, waiting to take the lead, soften your heart and let Him.

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Father

You created us out of love

so we could love others.

How do we love someone

Who hurts us?

Who lies to us?

Who sins against us?

Teach us to forgive

and allow you to heal us!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Sirach 27:30-28:7

• Do you hold onto anger or does it hold onto you?
• What makes it hard to forgive?

 Romans 14:7-9

• How do you live your life for God?
• How do you live your life for others?

 Matthew 18:21-35

• Jesus shares the parable to show how he forgives, can you relate to the man in the parable who has been forgiven? How do you relate to the man in the parable who has not?
• In this passage, Jesus says there is no limit to how many times you must forgive another person. Does he say how much time?  What do you think Jesus would say to the question of how much time it should take you to forgive someone?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Who are the people/things that make you angry?
• How often do you feel angry? How do you express it?
• What is something that makes you really angry?
• Do you believe forgiveness is a give and take?
• How were you taught to forgive? Share your earliest memory.
• What makes asking for forgiveness hard or easy?
• What makes forgiving someone hard or easy?
• Describe a time when you witnessed great forgiveness.
• Is there a sin or hurt which is more difficult to forgive?
• What is the first thing you think of in the morning? How does this reflect what and who we live for?
• How have you lived for God today? Be specific.
• Identify some of the sins of the world. Is there anything you can do to help heal the hurt?  Do you contribute to some of the sins of the world?
• When Jesus forgives, he forgives without condition. Do you think this is possible?  Why or why not?  Share an example.
• What gift of the Holy Spirit do you need to help you be able to forgive yourself and forgive others better?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  When we are called to forgive…

 ALL:  teach us your ways, Lord!

Leader:  When we are hard on another…

ALL:  soften our hearts, Lord!

Leader:  When our words are ice cold…

 ALL:  melt away judgment, Lord!

Leader:  When we only see hurt…

ALL:  open our minds, Lord!

Leader:  When cannot see a solution…

ALL:  give us understanding, Lord!

Leader:  When we forgive as you do…

ALL:   you make us whole, Lord!

 

Challenge for the Week:  If you were to die today, who would you want see or talk to before you died?  What would you want to say?  Are there people who you would want to avoid?  Why?  Spend time this week thinking of the unspoken things which need to be spoken and make a plan to have those conversations.  Do the ones you love, know how much you really love them?  Are there people you have hurt, who are in need of some kind words from you?  Do you hold a grudge from a past hurt that is keeping you from having a more meaningful relationship with someone?  Live today like there is no tomorrow and seek God’s assistance!

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Father

How can I care for others

like you care for me?

Help me to see more like you,

so I might be more giving.

Give me a heart like you,

so I can love and show mercy.

Open my ears and my arms,

to hear the cry and give comfort.

You ask nothing more than for us

to love you and love others;

Let us pray together and heal the world!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Ezekiel 33:7-9

• Who has God appointed you watchman over?
• What are your responsibilities as watchman?
• Who watches over you? How do they watch over you?  Share an example.

 Romans 13:8-10

• God asks nothing but to love one another; how well do you show love to others?
• What obstacles hold you back from giving and showing love to your neighbor?
• How do you define neighbor? Is it the same way God defines neighbor?

 Matthew 18:15-20

• What does this scripture tell you about the power of prayer? What does it tell you about the power of community?  Share a personal experience when you saw this power first hand.
• How have you testified to the power of prayer? How can you testify to the power of prayer?
• When have you seen/heard someone testify to the power of prayer?

 

 General Questions for Journaling

• When do you feel safe? Where are you?  Who is with you?
• Share a time when you did not feel safe. What caused you to feel this way?  How did you overcome the feeling?
• Are there places, people or situations you avoid because you fear them?
• How do you think those who are put into the position of “watchman” in the community or world do in their role? Find a good example.
• Who do you see bringing justice to the world? How do they make a difference in the lives of others?
• Is there a situation in your life right now where you can stand up to bring to light an injustice?
• How are you an advocate of your faith? In your family?  In your workplace?
• Is it easy or difficult to take responsibility for your actions?
• Share a time when you refused to listen to the thoughts of another person. What was the circumstance?  Did you ever end up hearing their opinion?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  I want to sing your praises all my days…

 ALL:  let it be done, O Lord!

Leader:  I want to kneel before you in awe…

ALL:  let it be done, my God!

Leader:  I want to give thanks for your sacrifice…

 ALL:  let it be done, my Savior!

Leader:  I want to spread your word to others…

ALL:  let it be done, Breath of Life!

Leader:  I want to give honor and glory to you…

ALL:  let it be done, my Creator!

Leader:  I want to hear your voice and listen…

ALL:   let it be done, God of all!

 

Challenge for the Week:  This week, look up the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  He has determined humans show love in five different ways.  Read through these and determine if you relate to one or more of them.  Do you agree with his assessment or do you think there are more or less ways to express love?  Which would you say is your preferred way to express love to others?  Which would you say is your preferred way to receive love from others?  How does God show love to you?  Does it fit into one of these five ways?  When you look at the way God loves and compare it to the way you love others, what can you do to love more like God?