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!