28th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

God,

Your WORD is like a warm blanket

It keeps me company when I am lonely

And warms my soul and comforts me.

Blessed am I that I can wrap up in your WORD!

Amen

Journal/Reflection Questions

Wisdom 7:7-11

• What do you imagine is priceless to God? What is priceless to you? How do the two differ? How are they the same?
• Can you identify with the emotion expressed in this scripture? To what could you compare it?

Hebrews 4:12-13

• This scripture explains God sees everything and knows everything, how does knowing God already knows what you have thought and what you have done or not done change your daily prayer?
• Human instinct is to, like Adam and Eve, try to cover up sin. What might happen if you didn’t cover up what you did wrong?
• How is God naked before you? Does God conceal anything? Explain.

Mark 10:17-30

• How do you relate to the Rich Man? When have you felt God ask you to do something you were not ready to do?
• Does God REALLY want you to give up everything to follow Him? What is the ultimate message here?
• Have you ever been discouraged like the Rich Man in the Gospel reading because you have been faithful but Jesus continues to ask for more from you?
• There is a saying that “anything worth doing is worth doing right”, how does this saying relate to the Gospel message? What does this mean for you?

General Questions for Journaling

• For what do you pray? How does God respond to your prayers?
• Reflect on your prayers; are they the same each day?
• Are your prayers specific or general?
• Do you plead with God only when you are in trouble?
• How are pleading and begging the same or different? Can you bargain with God?
• What prayer are you waiting on God to answer for you? Are you waiting because God hasn’t given you the answer you desire?
• What causes you to “trip up” before God? Are there specific things God asks of you that you hesitate to accomplish? What holds you back?
• How would another person know what you valued? What do you do with your valuables? How do you treat them? How are they displayed?
• Do your actions affirm your values or do you say you value something because it makes you feel better to say so? Give an example.
• What has God provided to you which is priceless? Have you thanked God for this?
• Do you think God gives more to a person who is giving than to a person who isn’t as giving?
• Who is the most giving person you know? What qualities about them do you admire the most?
• What is your process for making decisions? Where does God fit into your discernment?
• Who can be saved? What does it mean to be saved?
• Do you think anyone can ever stop being good? Honest? Faithful?
• What motivates you to be a better person?
• How does clinging to something cause harm?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  May I seek out where YOU lead…

ALL:  Fill my spirit with WISDOM!

Leader:  May I be glad today and everyday…

ALL:  Fill my spirit with REJOICING!

Leader:  May I reach out to others…

ALL:  Fill my spirit with KINDNESS!

Leader:  May I sing YOUR praises…

ALL:  Fill my spirit with CELEBRATION!

Leader: May I follow YOUR heart…

ALL:  Fill my spirit with LOVE!

Challenge for the Week:  Identify one thing which is keeping you from giving yourself completely to Jesus?  What it is that you just can’t let go of or stands in your way of fully embracing the life God intended for you to live?  Jesus says to let go and follow me.  Consider how you feel when you don’t have someone’s full attention; perhaps a child when you are disciplining them or a spouse when you are sharing about the ups and downs of your day.  This must be how God feels when He is speaking to you and sharing His desires with you, but you don’t listen or pay attention or take action.  This week work on shedding ONE obstacle which causes you to not be in full communion with Jesus.  Work on breaking the habit and creating a new one which keeps you on the path toward a better relationship with God, the ultimate JOY!

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