3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

God of all,

There is no where we can go

that will take us away from You.

No mountain is too high,

No ocean is too deep;

You are always there!

Let my heart and mind know

I cannot run away from You.

Your will, Lord, is always done!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

• What truths about God are revealed through this scripture?
• What message did Jonah bring to Nineveh? How does this same message ring true in your life right now?
• What significance does the three days have to this story? Where else in scripture does God promise change in three days?

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

• What does God want from you right now? Is it the same or different from what he wanted from you a year ago?  5?  10?
• What does the scripture tell you about what God values?

 Mark 1:14-20

• What do you need to repent in order to follow Jesus?
• Jesus find them “mending their nets”, what requires mending in your life right now? Does God find you doing the mending or are you waiting for someone else to fix it?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Have you set out on a new journey this year? What is your mission?
• Are there specific things you will take on your journey? Where do you turn for help?  Who is your guide?
• How do you act when given a deadline? Does it increase productivity?  Does it cause stress?  What about your attention/focus changes?
• How have you been called to change? Where does the call come from?
• What benefit comes from a threat? Are there times when they are effective?  Why or why not?
• Where do you find solace? Is it easy or difficult to find?
• What current fads do you wish would “pass away”? Are there trends you wish would come back?  Why?
• Are there things you hold onto? What value do they have to you?  What value does the world give them?  What value does God give them?
• Share a time when you were up against a deadline and time ran out before you were able to complete the task. What was the situation?  What was the outcome?  How did you feel as time began to run out?  How did you feel after time was passed?
• Is there anything you must repent in order to have a stronger relationship with God?
• Are there things you should repent to heal or strengthen a relationship with a friend or family member?
• The Good News is that God has chosen you, despite your faults; how can you share this Good News with others? Be specific.

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Lord, when you call…

 ALL:  your words engulf me!

Leader:  Lord, when you call…

ALL:  my heart is awakened!

Leader:  Lord, when you call…

 ALL:  I turn to listen!

Leader:  Lord, when you call…

ALL:  my soul rejoices!

Leader:  Lord, when you call…

ALL:  I hear nothing else!

Leader:  Lord, when you call…

ALL:  your servant is ready!

 

Challenge for the Week:  The word present has a couple of very different meanings.  One present means “right now” and another is “a gift” but what if to God they really mean the same thing???  Consider the present moment in time as a gift from God.  How do we use it?  What value do we give it?  Unfortunately, many of us spend much of our time thinking about the past and planning for the future.  We don’t always give the present, the value of time which it deserves.  This doesn’t only apply to the time we spend alone, with our own thoughts but it also affects the time we spend with friends, family and others whom deserve our uninterrupted attention.  Are we present with them?  What can we do to become more present, in the moment?  What changes can we make to allow us to be more present minded…what a true present that would be!