27th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Like the vineyard, my life need work.

Teach me to plant good things.

Allow me to be nourished.

Tended to me when I am weary.

I know there will be times when

        the weeds try to take over.

But I trust You are the ultimate Gardener,

        and you’ll help me produce good fruit!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 5 :1-7

• Compare the world to a vineyard. What do you imagine is growing; identify the weeds, the bugs and the different types of grapes. What are the fertilizers or the pesticides? What good is coming from the vineyard?
• What can you learn from the vineyard owner, how does he work the field to produce a bounty? What kind of work do you do to produce good fruit?
• What condition is your vineyard (spiritual life)? What are you doing to care for it? Prevent weeds? Sour grapes? Infestations? What can you do to help these things from taking over?

Philippians 4:6-9

• Does this scripture bring comfort or frustration? Explain.
• What does St. Paul say you need to do to guard you fears, worries and anxieties? How can this become a reality?

Matthew 21:33-43

• How do you identify with the Gospel reading? Are there people or situations in your life which you visualize as you hear the Word spoken? How are you being called to change the situation?
• The Gospel reading doesn’t sound too much different than what happens in the world today. How did God react to the wretched way people treat one another in the parable? How does Jesus’ response play out in today’s society?

General Questions for Journaling

• Identify obstacles which keep you from being a better “keeper of the vineyard”? How can you avoid these obstacles?
• Have you ever had a situation in your life that went wild and out of control? Why did it happen and what were you able to do about it?
• What do you devote your time to? Does the way you spend your time accurately express your devotion?
• Are there things in your life which cause you constant worry or anxiety? What is it about those things that you can’t let go of?
• What advice can you give about letting go of anxiety?
• Is there such a thing as worrying too much? What does it look like?
• Can a person not worry enough? How does that look?
• Is it hard or easy to find fault in yourself? Why or why not?
• Is it hard or easy to find fault in others? Why or why not?
• Are there things others believe are faults in you but you believe otherwise?
• What does it mean to do what is honorable, just, lovely, pure, gracious? Do you think they are achievable?
• Where do you find peace? How can you cultivate it? Is it possible to have peace all the time? Is it a fantasy?
• Where do you see messengers of God’s peace? God’s love? Who might you consider to be one of God’s messengers?
• Have you ever had a time when you felt you had done all you could but things still turned out badly?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Lord, Grant me PEACE…

ALL:  when walls start to crumble.

Leader: Lord, Grant me PEACE…

ALL:  when confusion outweighs understanding.

Leader:  Lord, Grant me PEACE…

ALL:  when the world seems untamed.

Leader:  Lord, Grant me PEACE…

ALL:  when we feel alone and unsheltered.

Leader:  Lord, Grant me PEACE…

ALL:  when contempt and judgment take control.

Leader:  Lord, Grant me PEACE…

ALL:   and surround me with your love!

Challenge for the Week:  Draw a picture of either what you imagine anxiety looks like OR a picture of what you imagine your vineyard looks like.  Take out a blank piece of paper and with crayons, colored pencils/pens, or markers, set out to meditate and pray.  Don’t go into the activity anxious or telling yourself that it won’t turn out because you can’t draw.  Allow yourself at least 30 minutes and make it an act of prayer.

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Saving Lord

Each step I take

whether I walk towards you or away from you

You are always with me!

You never leave.

Even when I turn away, YOU are near!

We are tied together eternally.

I am grateful for your presence.

Help me to be more mindful of the Holy Spirit in my life.

AMEN!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Ezekiel 18 :25-28

• Reflect on a time this week when you turned away from wickedness. How did you recognize the wickedness? Did you turn to God instead?
• What do you believe is not fair about following God?

Philippians 2:1-11

• What encouragement do you hear in this scripture? What specifically is St Paul saying directly to you?
• God’s joy is complete when we are of one mind with him. What can you do to work towards making God’s joy complete?

Matthew 21:28-32

• Identify how this is a story about turning towards God. 
• Consider how BOTH sons might work toward conversion.  How can you relate to each of them? 
• How do the Elder’s change their ways because of Jesus’ words?  How are you called to change because of His words?

General Questions for Journaling

• Is there something wicked in your life? Does it linger? Does it fester? Are you comforted by it? 
• What helps you turn away from sin?
• Are there things which tempt you that you need to seek help from others/from God to conquer?
• Are there things you know are sins but you do them anyways? 
• Are good words or good deeds better? Explain. Are you better at good words or good deeds?  Share examples of both.
• Who are some of the people whose needs you put first, before your own? Reflect on these relationships, do you give too much? Too little? Are you able to meet your needs in addition?
• Are there people in your life who put your needs before their own?  Reflect on the examples of when then this has happened…what is the relationship between you and the person who puts your needs ahead of their needs?
• Consider some of the saints…reflect on one or two of them who put the needs of others before their own needs. What can you learn from their example and put into practice in your life?
• What does it mean to you to be a “slave” to Christ? Share an example.
• How would you say you resemble God? What qualities do you emulate? Which qualities do you wish to work on so you might be more like God?
• Can you tell the difference between people who are doing good for their own glory and those who are doing good for the glory of God?
• Is there an area in your life which needs conversion? Map out a plan on how you might achieve this, what you will do, who you will ask for assistance, be specific.

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Lord, change my heart

ALL:  help me reach out with compassion.

Leader: Lord, change my heart

ALL:  help me to be patient with others.

Leader:  Lord, change my heart

ALL:  help me care for my neighbor.

Leader:  Lord, change my heart

ALL:  help me to share my faith.

Leader:  Lord, change my heart

ALL:  help me to turn to you.

Leader:  Lord, change my heart

ALL:   and always follow your Word.

Challenge for the Week:  When was the last time you tried to something new?  Was it easy or difficult to learn the new skill?  What about learning a new way to do something?  How did it feel to do the task differently?  We can get stuck in our ways and routines and not really give a new way a chance.  God wants us to turn to him and we must change some of our ways to get closer to him.  We can get stubborn or find change too difficult and then give up, turning back to our own ways.  However, the scriptures this week clearly state that there is peace and joy waiting for us when we turn our lives over to God.  What steps are you willing to take to turn to God?

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Lord,

Though I may grumble and complain

you continue to stay close to me.

Teach me to be more mindful of your presence

        in myself and especially in others.

Help me make a habit to look more deeply

        into the truth which is Your Word.

These practices should help me to see myself

        more in the way you see me.

AMEN!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 55:6-9

• How often do you see, here or feel God’s presence within a 24 hour period? How do you know God is near?
• Identify your wicked thoughts, how does God help you let go of them?

Philippians 1:20c-24,27a

• Identify at least one person in your life who magnifies God.  What qualities magnify God? How do you magnify God?
• What work in your life produces good fruit? How do you engage in fruitful labor? Share an example.
• What does St. Paul mean that “death is gain”? Share an example.

Matthew 20:1-16a

• Where do you see yourself in the parable? Take time to reflect on each person’s perspective. Include the workers, the landowner and those who were not chosen to work.
• How does this parable show justice/injustice?
• What insight do you gain about God’s thoughts?

General Questions for Journaling

• When do you feel God is more present in your life?
• When do you feel God is less present in your life?
• If God is always near, why do you need to seek Him? What make it hard to find Him sometimes?
• Would God ever hold back mercy or forgiveness? Why or why not? 
• Have you ever held back from giving or showing mercy or forgiveness? What was the situation? How can you grow and change from the experience?
• When have you felt God’s mercy? Be specific.
• How do you live your life according to the Gospel? What does this mean? Share an example of how a person can live out the Gospel.
• Do you know people who live a life of generosity? How can you follow their example? 
• Is generosity earned? How does one become worthy of being the recipient of a generous act?
• How is grace given in the ways of the world?  What does grace look like in these terms?  How is it similar or different than the way God gives grace?
• How do you respond when you feel something is unfair? How do you respond when you feel something is in your favor?
• How can you teach a child to understand God’s definition of fair? Who makes the rules of fair and unfair?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  I am a laborer in God’s vineyard…

ALL:  let me show others mercy!

Leader: I am a laborer in God’s vineyard…

ALL:  let me show others generosity!

Leader:  I am a laborer in God’s vineyard…

ALL:  let me show others forgiveness!

Leader:  I am a laborer in God’s vineyard…

ALL:  let me show others love!

Leader:  I am a laborer in God’s vineyard…

ALL:  let me show others justice!

Leader:  I am a laborer in God’s vineyard…

ALL:   let me show others CHRIST!

Challenge for the Week:  How you live your life today matters.  The decisions you make sometimes may seem simple but those are the decisions that form and shape your life.  What is the message that you want to leave when your life if over?  What do you want people to remember?  God created you for a purpose and called you to love Him and love others.  When your decisions each day are made through the focus of loving God and loving others, then that love will shine through and be what people remember when you are gone.  Is this the legacy you are leaving behind?  God is right there, waiting to take the lead, soften your heart and let Him.

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Father God,

You created me out of love

        so I could love others.

How do I love someone

        Who hurts me?

        Who lies to me?

        Who sins against me?

Teach me to forgive

        and allow me to heal us!

I am incapable of love or forgiveness

        without your example.

Thank you for both!  AMEN!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Sirach 27:30-28:7

• Do you hold onto anger or does it hold onto you?
• What makes it hard to forgive others? What makes it hard to forgive yourself? What makes it hard to forgive God?

Romans 14:7-9

• How do you live your life for God? How do you live your life for others?  How do these differ? How are they similar?
• Explain how you carry those who have died with you? Identify a specific way a loved one who has died impacts your life today.

Matthew 18:21-35

• Jesus shares the parable to show how he forgives; can you relate to the man in the parable who has been forgiven? How do you relate to the man in the parable who has not?
• In this passage, Jesus says there is no limit to how many times you must forgive another person. Does he say how much time? What do you think Jesus would say to the question of how much time it should take you to forgive someone?

General Questions for Journaling

• Who are the people/things that make you angry?
• How often do you feel angry? How do you express it? What are the physical symptoms of your anger? Do you have tale-tale signs?
• What is something that makes you really angry?
• Do you believe forgiveness is a give and take? Explain.
• How were you taught to forgive? Share your earliest memory.
• What makes asking for forgiveness hard or easy?
• What makes forgiving someone hard or easy?
• Describe a time when you witnessed great forgiveness.
• Is there a sin or hurt which is more difficult to forgive?
• What is the first thing you think of in the morning? How does this reflect what and who we live for?
• How have you lived for God today? Be specific.
• When you weren’t living for God today, for whom were you living?
• Identify some of the sins of the world. Is there anything you can do to help heal the hurt? Do you contribute to some of the sins of the world?
• When Jesus forgives, he forgives without condition. Do you think this is possible? Why or why not? Share an example.
• What gift of the Holy Spirit do you need to help you be able to forgive yourself and forgive others better?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  When we are called to forgive…

ALL:  teach us your ways, Lord!

Leader:  When we are hard on another…

ALL:  soften our hearts, Lord!

Leader:  When our words are ice cold…

ALL:  melt away judgment, Lord!

Leader:  When we only see hurt…

ALL:  open our minds, Lord!

Leader:  When cannot see a solution…

ALL:  give us understanding, Lord!

Leader:  When we forgive as you do…

ALL:   you make us whole, Lord!

Challenge for the Week:  If you were to die today, who would you want see or talk to before you died?  What would you want to say?  Are there people who you would want to avoid?  Why?  Spend time this week thinking of the unspoken things which need to be spoken and make a plan to have those conversations.  Do the ones you love, know how much you really love them?  Are there people you have hurt, who are in need of some kind words from you?  Do you hold a grudge from a past hurt that is keeping you from having a more meaningful relationship with someone?  Live today like there is no tomorrow and seek God’s assistance!