13^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Lord

You are the beginning and the end.

You are the alpha and the omega.

You are the day and the night.

You are life and death.

Let me seek you in all things and at all times!

Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24

• Why do you think God creates us to live so we can die?
• What clarity do you find in this scripture about your purpose to live and the reason God created you?

 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15

• Explain…”Whoever had much did not have more, and whoever has little did not have less.”
• How does this scripture explain the feeling of empathy? Does it inspire you to help other?  What can you do right away?
• How does the abundance of God make you feel?

 Mark 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43

• When have you touched Jesus? Describe the experience.
• How does God’s presence impact you? Be specific.
• How many times do you think a person must encounter God before they are a believer and follower?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• What are the qualities of humankind?
• Are any of the qualities of humankind the same as the qualities of God?
• What qualities of God do you wish you had? What keeps you from having those qualities?
• Draw a picture of yourself in God’s image.
• How does knowing God made all things change how you look at a person? An animal?  An insect?  A spider?  A landscape?
• Define wholesome. What do you find wholesome?
• Is there something that always lifts your spirits? Maybe a song or a special treat or hearing someone speak with voice full of helium?
• How come people say God provides? How does God pay my rent?
• Describe how you’d act in a room with extremely wealthy people. How is it different from the question below?
• Describe how you’d act in a room full of people in deep poverty. How is it different from the question above?
• What do you have in abundance? Do you share it?  How?  Be specific.
• Is a treasure always something valuable? Is it something you must keep or can it be more valuable if you share it?  Give an example.

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Lord, you created me…

 ALL:  so I could find you!

Leader:  Lord, you created me…

ALL:  so I could see you!

Leader: Lord, you created me…

ALL:  so I could touch you!

Leader:  Lord, you created me…

ALL:  so I could hear you!

Leader:  Lord, you created me…

ALL:  so I could know you!

Leader:  Lord, you created me…

ALL:  so I could share you!

 

Challenge for the Week:  In the Gospel this week, there are many things which cause us to take notice.  At the time these things occurred, while Jesus walked on earth, the news spread by word of mouth and it even notes how the crowd was astonished and took notice of the unusual things.  Now if these things happened today think about how social media would be used and the impact it would have on the situation.  Do you think people would still take notice or would they be distracted?  Can you imagine how someone could take what happened and create a “fake news” story that could trend?  How many people do you think would “like” or react with “love”, “wow”, “sad” or “mad” to a video of the miracles?  What are possible “captions” a person would post in a snap-chat story line?  Does the presence and use of social media change the outcome or lesson of what happened?  Today social media plays a huge part in our society, how they perceive and understand things that happen.  However, it also can confuse and distort reality and fiction.  Spend time this week considering how social media dictates how you view situations and determines what is real.  What can God do to help clarify the social media fog some people get into?  How can you help?

Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist

 

Opening Prayer

Savior

Let me be reminded

each day is a gift

and live it in that way!

I want to learn discipline

so I can be more mindful

of your presence each moment!

Help me see things

more like you see

so I can do your work here on earth!

I want my love for you

to be shown without words or actions

but for others to see you when they see me!

Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 49:1-6

• How does God show his glory through you? Are you intentional about it or does it just happen?
• Share an example of when you have toiled for nothing or uselessly used strength to do something, complete something and it was all in vain. How was God present in that moment?

 Acts 13:22-26

• What does this reading teach you about the qualities of John the Baptist? What about these qualities is appealing?
• Explain the baptism of repentance. How is this the same or different from baptism today?

 Luke 1:57-66, 80

• What message do you get about Zachariah’s deafness? How does this impact John’s life?
• How does fear factor into your faith? Give an example.

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Do you believe you are born pre-disposed to do specific things or have a specific job? Why or why not?
• Who are some of the people you look up to today? What qualities do they have that appeal to you?
• Are there positive role models in the world today? Are they easy or difficult to find?  What values do they teach?
• How do you believe technology and media affect who society holds in favor? What are the benefits?  What are the consequences?
• What one word best describes your relationship with God? Is it the same word for your relationship with Jesus? Or the Holy Spirit?
• Is there a difference between spirituality and religion?
• Have you ever gone against tradition? What was the situation and the outcome?  Would you do it again?  Why or why not?
• Share an example from the past week of people being united because of faith. Share an example of people being united because of fear.  What are the similarities and differences of the gatherings?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Shine your light

 ALL:  so others see you first.

Leader:  Form my thoughts

ALL:  so others see you first.

Leader: Prepare my path

 ALL:  so others see you first.

Leader:  Teach me humility

ALL:  so others see you first.

Leader:  Fill my soul

ALL:  so others see you first.

Leader:  May I live my life

ALL:  so others see you first.

 

Challenge for the Week:  When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?  A nurse?  A firefighter?  An archeologist?  Were there people in your family or in your community whom you looked up to and thought, I want to be just like them when I grow up?  What were some of those qualities in the specific profession or in the person that you found appealing?  What if those first interests was God.  Reflect back to when you were younger and spend time pondering those first inclinations of what God wrote on your heart before you were born.  What were those specific interests and how are you using them today?  Are you close or far away from those first interests?  How does that make you feel?  If you are far away, do those qualities or professions still interest you?  Take time this week to discern if you are in the place, on the path God has laid out for you or if you have followed another path.  It is not uncommon for people to wake up and realize they ended up somewhere they didn’t intend but the ultimate question is, are you where God intends???

11^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

God,

You created us from the dirt

with the Holy Spirit.

We become a new creation

through the Sacraments.

You give us eternal life

by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Let us stay rooted in these truths,

bearing good fruit for others.

Help us to grow in you,

following the path you set out for us.

Be our guide, our comfort and our peace.

Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Ezekiel 17:22-24

• How are you able to provide “shade” or “shelter” to others through your connection to God?
• If God is able to make a tree bigger or smaller or make one bloom or wither; what does this say about what He can do for you?

 2Corinthians 5:6-10

• What does it mean to “walk by faith and not by sight”? What does it look like?
• Share an example of someone you know or of a personal experience of living by faith and not by sight.

 Mark 4:26-34

• How is God like the farmer in the parable? Where do you see yourself?
• Do you give the same attention to detail as the farmer did to his crop as you do to your own spiritual life?
• Do you tend to the work of your job the way the farmer tends to the crop? If so how does it feel?  If not, what does it mean?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Share an example when you were able to live out the “least become great and the great become the least”.
• When did Jesus model the “least to great and great to least” attitude?
• Who other than Jesus in the bible practice the “least to great and great to least” attitude?
• Where do you go for “shade”? What are some examples of when you need it?  How does it feel when you find it?
• Are there people whom you “shade” or offer protection? Do you do it naturally or did they ask for your help?
• When would you say you “lose” your courage? Where does it go?
• What helps you gain or re-gain courage when you need it?
• Share an example or two of people whom you look up to who show or have shown great courage and how they inspire you.
• When do you feel the most courageous? When do you feel the least?
• What pleases God? How do you know?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  We begin as a seed,

 ALL:  in the darkness.

Leader:  We are nourished and fed,

ALL:  and begin to sprout growth.

Leader: We soak up the rain and the sun,

 ALL:  which is given freely.

Leader:  Our branches bend and sway,

ALL:  but we stay rooted.

Leader:  We become a new creation,

ALL:  offering shade, shelter and support.

Leader:  Feed us Lord,

ALL:  plant and sow seeds of love, mercy, grace and forgiveness in our lives.

 

Challenge for the Week:  Jesus used a lot of parables to help us understand faith, love and the Kingdom of God.  In each parable, there is deep symbolism for us to explore.  This week, try to find a symbol which richly describes your faith and spirituality.  It might be something that has been passed on for generations in your family, it might be a gift you recently received, it might be something you or someone you know made especially for you.  Whatever it might be, there is deeper meaning to it than others can see.  As you search, remember our celebration of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ…the bread and wine are simply food and drink to some but our faith helps us understand and believe them to be the body and blood of our Savior and Lord.  Also, like the mustard seed, so small and meek but within it there is the predisposition to become a giant tree.  After seeking out your symbol, try to write out a parable/story/reflection about it.

10^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Father

From the beginning of time,

YOU have been there for me.

You breathed into me

so I might have life,

and you sent your son

to die so life can be eternal.

You are the beginning and the end!

Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Genesis 3:9-15  

• What is holy about the garden before the sin was committed? What is holy about the garden after the sin took place?
• Reflect on a time when you have tried to hide from God. Does the conversation in the scripture sound familiar?

 2Corinthians 4:13-5:1 

• Describe what you think of when you hear the phrase, “dwelling place”?
• What is the difference between the seen and the unseen?

 Mark 3:20-35

• Share a time when you felt God take away something negative in your life.
• How do you know what is the will of God? Is it easy or difficult to do the will of God? What helps you know you are doing the will of God?
• Share an example of how satan still divides and plunders in the world today.

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Have you ever done something that was forbidden? What was it and were there consequences for being caught?
• Are you afraid of snakes or not? Does your fear have anything to do with the scripture of the forbidden fruit?
• Have you ever been tricked into doing something you didn’t want to do? What was the situation?
• How does it feel to be tricked? How does it feel to be the one doing the tricking?
• Does it scare you or comfort you to know God will find you no matter where you hide?
• How much is forgiveness worth to you?
• Is forgiveness a burden to carry or a grace to be given? Share an example of a time you felt it was both.
• Is faith something you feel? How do you know you are full of faith?  Can you ever have too much?
• Share a time when you were surrounded by people who love God and were praising Him. Describe how you felt and the atmosphere in the crowd.
• How would you explain life to death and death to life to another person?
• Is there something you need to come clean about to God? God already knows the wrong you have done, tell God out loud so you can receive forgiveness.

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Give me a clean Spirit Lord,

 ALL:  that I may sin no more!

Leader:  Give me a clean Spirit Lord,

ALL:  that I may walk with you in the garden!

Leader: Give me a clean Spirit Lord,

 ALL:  that I may emulate your love and grace!

Leader:  Give me a clean Spirit Lord,

ALL:  that I may see the unseen!

Leader:  Give me a clean Spirit Lord,

ALL:  that I may live beyond this life!

Leader:  Give me a clean Spirit Lord,

ALL:  that I may desire your will!

 

Challenge for the Week:  The second reading says, “Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”  Spend time this week considering this sentence.  How does your outer self waste away?  How is your inner self renewed?  What does this look like?  What does it really mean?  Are you an active participant in making this happen or does it happen without your knowledge?  Do you think it happens even if a person uses their free will to NOT believe in God?  There is much to consider, especially since one cannot hide from God, He knows where you are, always!