6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Compassionate God

YOU silence every cry, YOU wipe away every tear.

Each of us are bound, bruised and broken,

        but throughout history Lord,

everything YOU touch is made whole.

You are the healer and perfector of all creation.

Comfort us, Almighty Father. 

Hold us in your arms…forever!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46

• 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?
• How do you relate to those who are labeled as a leper?

1Corinthians 10:31-11:1

• Do you give thanks to God each time you eat and drink? Consider how many hands your food passed through to get to you and provide you with the nourishment you need.
• When do you give thanks to God? How many times on average do you give thanks to God?

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 know a leper? Is there someone in your workplace or community whom others have outcast or deemed “unclean”?
• What if your sins showed on your skin like the sores of leprosy? 
• Have you ever been outcast because of a physical ailment? 
• How can you use your scars to bring healing to others?
• Do you have a physical feature which you try to hide or cover? What is it?  How could God use it? How can you show God’s glory through this thing you try to hide?
• Can the glory of God spread by touch like the disease of leprosy? Why or why not?
• 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?
• 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?
• Define “pity”. What is it, who has it and where does it come from?
• Is there something or someone within your grasp that needs a healing touch? What can you do?
• When have you experienced the healing touch of God in your life?

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:  How do you show God glory each day?  Is in your morning or evening prayer enough?  Is praying before your meals sufficient?  Consider all of the “everyday” things you do such as brushing your teeth, driving or doing the laundry.  Make a list of all of the “everyday” things you do and then think of a way to do that same task for the “GLORY OF GOD”.  Then do it!