6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

My God

In my shame,

I run and hide

In my guilt,

I turn away

I am infected

and you are the cure

Each dose of your Word

brings me healing

I never leave your presence empty

with you I am filled!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46

• How do you relate to those who are labeled as a leper?
• When have you acted like Moses and Aaron and forced another to be exposed or excommunicated?
• Are there people in the world today which you dub as unclean? What are your criteria for determining they are unclean?

1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1

• What does it mean to “do everything for the glory of God”? Share examples
• Think back to yesterday and determine if you were aware of God’s presence all day. Were there gaps?
• What times of the day or what activities are the most difficult for you to be aware of God’s presence in your life?

 Mark 1:40-45

• Jesus reached out in pity, when have you felt Jesus reach out to you with pity? What was the situation?  What was the outcome?
• Would you be able to contain yourself if you were healed and not tell anyone or would you be like the leper who shared with everyone the good that was done?
• How is the leper in the first reading treated differently or the same as the leper in the Gospel reading? What lesson do you take from this?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Do you bear a scar or flaw which you cover up so others cannot see? Why are you afraid for others to see?
• Have ever felt shunned or left out? What was the outcome of the situation?
• Do you cover your scabs or leave them exposed? What is the benefit of both?
• Have you ever left someone out because of an imparity?
• Do you have a hero? An idol?  What characteristics draw you to them?
• Who in your family do you take after? What traits do you have in common?
• Did you “inherit” family traits which you are proud of or ones with which you struggle?
• What traits do you have in common with Jesus? Do these come naturally or do you work at them?
• Have you ever done something which caused you much attention?
• How can you use your scars to bring healing to others?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Lord, let me see what you see!

 ALL:  When I see illness,

Leader:  Lord, you see wellness.

ALL:  When I see something broken,

Leader: Lord, you see it whole.

 ALL:  When I see poverty,

Leader:  Lord, you see richness.

ALL:  When I see sin,

Leader:  Lord, you see forgiveness.

ALL:  When I see death,

Leader:  Lord, you see life.

ALL:  Lord, let me see what you see!

 

Challenge for the Week:  A movie I saw a while back was about a 30 year old woman who had been overweight in high school gathered her group of friends together to celebrate meeting her weight loss.  Her weight had kept her from participating in activities and stood in her way as an obstacle.  It was even a source of jokes among her friends and she accepted and allowed the derogatory names.  Her journey in losing the weight was not just a physical journey but an emotional and spiritual one as well.  She changed her thoughts.  No longer did she allow people to call her names or make jokes about her size, nor did she hesitate to participate in the things she wanted to, even if it was more difficult because of her weight.  When she called her friends together, they didn’t recognize her.  She had imagined being able to celebrate this achievement of her weight loss with her friends and that they would be proud of her.  Instead, they all were wrapped up in their own battles of self-loathing they were unable to be happy for their friend.  The people she had looked up to and wanted to be like had become “Ugly People”(I believe this is the title of the movie).  I share this as a challenge for you to make sure you are not too focused on your faults or scars that you are unaware of others around you.  Also to perhaps open you up to something you will work on over the upcoming weeks of Lent.  Jesus saw many unclean people, riddled with many diseases and he welcomed them in so they could be healed.  What can you do this Lent to follow in Jesus’ footsteps?  Remember though, you must first be healed before you can go out and give healing to others.