29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Father

You know my every thought

and yet you still love me.

I fall short in many ways

but you never leave my side.

Teach me your ways

so I might see you better.

Help me to recognize you

in every person I meet.

Let the Word be my guide

to come to know you better!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 45:1, 4-6

• What title do you give God?
• What has God armed you with to make you stronger?

 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b

• Describe how it felt/feels or describe how you imagine it would feel like to be chosen by God. How does expectation compare to reality?
• What role does the scripture say the Holy Spirit has in your life? On a scale from 1-10, how do you think the Holy Spirit is doing?

 Matthew 22:15-21

• What lesson is Jesus teaching here? How does His example speak to you?
• What were the Pharisees trying to get Jesus to say? What were they hoping would be the outcome?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• What has authority in your life?
• What rules your time?
• What dominates how your money is spent?
• In what areas of your life do feel free?
• In what areas of your life do you feel oppressed?
• Do you prefer sun rises or sun sets?
• What is the most impressive thing you have ever seen or heard about?
• Have you ever been used in a relationship?
• Have you ever entered a relationship with someone in order to gain something?
• Do you think God uses people?
• Do you think people use God?
• How does faith work for you? Do you work for your faith?
• Describe the power of the truth.
• How do you know when something is true?
• Where is truth learned?
• Is it possible to believe something as truth that is not really true?
• What is your definition of a hypocrite?
• Share an example of a time when you have been a hypocrite.
• Have you ever been in a situation where someone is trying to trap your words or catch you in a lie?
• How can you tell if flattery is true or if someone is buttering you up?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  The Lord is worthy

ALL:  of my daily prayer!

Leader:  The Lord is worthy

ALL:  of my trust!

Leader:  The Lord is worthy

 ALL:  of my respect!

Leader:  The Lord is worthy

ALL:  of my time!

Leader:  The Lord is worthy

ALL:  of my friendship!

Leader:  The Lord is worthy

ALL:   of my sacrifice!

 

Challenge for the Week:  Do you think God cares if you pay your taxes?  Do you think He keeps a tally sheet of how many times a day you pray, go to church or serve a meal at the shelter?  There are not different rules for people of different sexes, different races or different financial brackets.  God doesn’t judge what car you drive or the price tag on your clothes.  What God expects of you is exactly what He expects of each person on earth since the beginning of time.  It’s simply to give God love.  We cannot earn a place in heaven, there is not an invisible punch card we need to fill by doing good deeds that will give us priority.  All we can do is love.  Reflect on how you give love to God and to others this week.