6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Father

Give me the eyes to see you!

I want to choose to you!

I want to run to you!

I want to love you!

But at times I find it difficult to embrace what I cannot see.

Fill me with the faith I need to choose you even when I don’t see you!

AMEN!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Sirach 15:15-20

• Is it enough to simply say we choose God?  Why or why not?
• Why do you think God trusts us with free will?  Are we able to tell the difference between good and evil all of the time?

1Corinthians 2:6-10

• Describe what it is within you that confirms for you God exists?  How do you see God?  How do you hear God?  What does God smell like, taste like, feel like?
• Imagine something beautiful.  How does it feel to know God created that beauty just for your pleasure?

Matthew 5:17-37

• What does “spirit of the law” mean?  How can you apply it to your life?
• Can you love God and/or others without the law?  Are the commandments necessary?  Why or why not?

General Questions for Journal/Reflection

• One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is, “fear of the Lord”.  How do you show fear of the Lord?  Does “fear” mean frighten or scare?  How do you define “fear”?
• When you are faced with a choice, do you consult God before making your decision?
• Are there decisions you make which you don’t consult God?  What are they?  Why don’t you seek God’s consult for these?
• If you believe God sees all things…why do you still sin?
• Identify ways in which the commandments help you.  Do you follow them out of fear of going to hell?  Why or why not?
• Describe a time when you felt the Holy Spirit working inside of you.  When was it, who were you with, what were you doing?  How do you know it was the Holy Spirit?
• The Bible says God is a good judge.  What evidence do we have of this?
• How is wisdom different than knowledge or understanding?
• Is it possible to live beyond the law?  Share an example of what it looks like.
• When was the last time you did something good or something you were supposed to do and then made sure others knew you did it?  How was this like or unlike the Pharisees in the Gospel?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  You give your love

ALL:  in all of creation.

Leader:  You give your love

ALL:  with a rainbow.

Leader:  You give your love

ALL:  in the commandments.

Leader:  You give your love

ALL:  on a cross.

Leader:  You give your love

ALL:  in the Word.

Leader:  You give your love

ALL:  in the Eucharist.

Leader:  You give your love

ALL:  through US!

 

Challenge for the week:  Judging others is a sin many struggle with on a daily basis but did you know that even if you’ve been able to control NOT judging others, you may not have controlled judging yourself?  When people judge themselves they tend to be harder on themselves than they are on others.  Spend some time this week “judging” yourself through the eyes of Jesus.  Consider how your vision changes when you do this!!!