Sunday, July 3rd Readings

14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer
Father
You knew life would be hard.
You knew there would be challenges.
You knew the choices would be difficult.
But you sent Jesus to model how to show
mercy, give forgiveness and be obedient to You.
Through Jesus’ example,
you taught me that your grace is enough
to carry me through anything hard,
challenging or difficult that might come my way.
Thank you for your grace, mercy, forgiveness
and especially your love.
I know you are with me
in the valleys and on the mountain tops,
Lord, I trust you will carry me!

Journal/Reflection Questions
Isaiah 66:10-14c

Where do you see God rejoicing today?
How does the imagery of a mother’s love hold true for you? Where might it fall short? Is there a better image for God to use to describe His love?

Galatians 6:14-18

Where do you see God’s grace in the world?
What does it mean to be a new creation?
In addition to your faith, what else do you value greatly?

Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 or 10:1-9

How are humans like lambs? How are they like the wolves?
Where do you see examples of lambs and wolves in the world?
What is the harvest Jesus is speaking of in this scripture? Why are the laborers few?
How do you see yourself in this scripture?

General Questions for Journaling

Describe your connection to your church, parish or place of worship. What is your connection to the community? What need(s) does the community meet in your life?
Do you believe the church holds the same purpose it did when they first began to form? Why or why not? What is the same or different?
Has God’s love for His people changed over time or does it remain the same? Does God love you as He did Adam & Eve? King David? Mary, Mother of Jesus? Jesus?
What laws of the world are non-negotiable? Why are they so?
Where do you see influences of the world and the laws of people in your household?
Where do you see influences of Jesus in your household?
How is peace achieved in your life? How often do you achieve resting in peace?
Where do you see mercy shown? What can you do show mercy to others more regularly? Are there opportunities which you sidestep?
How do you welcome others? Share a specific situation.
Where do you share peace? To whom do you give peace? From whom do you receive peace? How can you have it more abundantly?

Closing Prayer
Leader: Fill my heart with love and compassion
ALL: so I might bring comfort to a child.
Leader: Fill my heart with love and compassion
ALL: so I might see where my help is needed.
Leader: Fill my heart with love and compassion
ALL: so I might trust you more.
Leader: Fill my heart with love and compassion
ALL: so I might show love more deeply.
Leader: Fill my heart with love and compassion
ALL: so I might open my arms to others.
Leader: Fill my heart with love and compassion
ALL: so I know I am enough!

Challenge for the Week: Saint Paul in the second reading notes how the people are arguing over the laws of circumcision. He is telling them it doesn’t matter because Jesus came to save all people, circumcised or not. People are still taking sides on issues today. Make a list of some of the things people are arguing about today. Are any of them keeping you from seeing your neighbor as Christ calls you to see them? Have you treated another with neglect, disregard or judged them based on the stand they take on a specific issue or law? Paul is not saying, don’t have an opinion. He is telling the Galatians that these differences should not distract from the fact that the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus should be what really matters. How will you live out this scripture passage in the coming days, weeks, months? Make a commitment for a specific change to see how it affects you and those around you.

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Sunday, June 26th Readings

13^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Lord

May I lay my head down

each day knowing I’ve pleased you.

May I unpack my burdens

so I can rest in your presence.

Let me follow in your path

of goodness and mercy

Lead me Lord to do all I can today!

Journal/Reflection Questions

1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21

God tells Elijah to go to Elisha and to teach him. How does God urge you to go to others to teach them?
Elisha is ready to go and serve God, but what does he do first? What does this say about his character?

Galatians 5:1, 13-18

What does Saint Paul mean that we were called to freedom? How?
What bites and devours you?
How do you differentiate “flesh” wants/needs and “spirit” wants/needs?

Luke 9:51-62

When Jesus travelled, He didn’t know where He would sleep each night. Could you travel like this? Why or why not?
Have you ever had to rely on the hospitality of another? What do you need to be able to do in order to be a good guest? What qualities are needed to be a good host? How do you rate in each category?
Jesus simply walked away when He and His disciples were not welcomed; the disciples wanted retribution. How does Jesus respond? Is it an easy example to follow? What can you do to help make it simpler like Jesus did?

General Questions for Journaling

God seeks you where you are to do His work; where has he found you lately? What is He asking you to do?
The prophets and apostles are often found out working when God calls. Make a list of the prophets whom God commissioned and what they were doing when He called.
Could you go away and leave behind your work, your family to do the work of God? Why or why not? What conditions would you need in order to do so?
Have you been chosen to be a mentor to someone? Name the qualities they saw in you which caused them to choose you.
Do you have or have you ever had a mentor? What qualities drew you to them? What did you learn from them?
Can you love fully? What allows you to do so? What keeps you from doing so?
Are there people you have trouble showing love to? Why or why not?
Would you say you have too much, too little or just the right amount of “stuff”? What could you live without?

Closing Prayer

Leader: Lord, YOU are my refuge,

ALL: my security when I am going through a storm.

Leader: Spirit, YOU are my counselor,

ALL: the one I go to when I’m facing a tough decision.

Leader: Jesus, YOU are my savior,

ALL: paving the road before me, I know I’m not alone.

Leader: Father, YOU are my joy,

ALL: I’m overwhelmed by all you’ve created for me to love.

Challenge for the Week: June 22 is the first day of summer! Summer is a time for family and friends to gather together, to take a long weekend or even a week or two of vacation away from the “normal”. Summer calls you to recognize what it is you value and to cherish it. Reflect on how God is giving you time to spend with those you love; how are you spending it? When you take time away from your “routine” do you have time to rest in God? Summer is full of opportunity for each of us to touch God and share His love with others!

Sunday, June 19th Readings

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

Opening Prayer

Savior

You came to earth to live

so I might know you better.

You taught how to live life

by the commandments.

You showed how to care for one another

by giving comfort and healing.

You gather your friends around the table

to share a meal but You share so much more.

May I forever seek to be in communion with You

by living my life as You call me to live!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Genesis 14:18-20

How does this scripture still ring true today? Give an example.
Bread and wine: reflect on the qualities of these two things, how are they made, where to do they come from, are they hard to find, are they only reserved for specific people?

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

What is the significance of giving the bread and wine separately? Are there specific values for each one individually? What are they?
This ritual is done in remembrance of what? Write down what it means to you and what Jesus wants you to remember through this meal.

Luke 9:11b-17

What is the importance of blessing the food?
Jesus again finds Himself working all day, giving of Himself to the crowds and then having to give even more. What can you learn from Jesus’ reaction and action in this scripture about giving?

General Questions for Journaling

How do you receive the gifts of bread and wine?
What do you to prepare to receive Jesus’ body and blood?
Can you ever have too much Jesus?
Explain in your own words what it means to you to receive Jesus’ body and blood.
Does taking communion on Sunday change you? Why or why not?
What does it feel like to be hungry? Thirsty?
How do you show gratitude for the gifts of Jesus’ body and blood?
When have you ever been asked to give more than what you had? How did you feel? Were you able to satisfy the need or was more still needed?
What needs are in front of you yearning to be met? How long have they been there? Do you believe they will be met on their own?
Who can you help this week to fulfill a need? Look around for a friend or family member who is seeking and lend a hand.

Closing Prayer

Leader: You gather your people together

ALL: To share more than a meal

Leader: You gather your people together

ALL: To give of ourselves

Leader: You gather your people together

ALL: To receive nourishment

Leader: You gather your people together

ALL: To find peace

Leader: You gather your people together

ALL: To make a connection

Leader: You gather your people together

ALL: To be in union with YOU!

Challenge for the Week: As humans we ALL share some very basic needs…we need to eat and we need to drink. If we do not eat or drink, we do not live. Do you think it is a coincidence that Jesus then wants us to remember him in these two forms? He is telling us to eat His body and drink His blood because without it, we cannot live. Spend time reflecting on this truth and what it means not only to you but to all humankind.

Sunday, June 12th Readings

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Opening Prayer

Blessed Trinity

You created me out of love

You came to be one with me

And You remain still.

You are the beginning and the end.

May I stay mindful

of all you are and all you give!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Proverbs 8:22-31

Where do you find delight? Is it a place? Is it a hobby? Is it a person?
How has God marked you as His own?

Romans 5:1-5

How does the Spirit work in you? How is it manifested? Where does it reside? Can you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit?
When did you last boast of God’s love? What words did you use/What words could you use?

John 16:12-15

How does the phrase, God gives you only what you can handle apply? What about those times when you are overwhelmed? How does the Gospel reading give insight to this phrase?
What is divine love? Define divine love.
How does the Holy Spirit speak to you? What does it have to say?

General Questions for Journaling

How do you carry God with you each day?
Does nature speak to you? What does it say? What parts of nature speak to you?
Does God have a signature? If so, what does it look like?
How do you show gratitude for creation?
How do you show gratitude for the human race?
What do you value about the human race?
Name ways people disappoint. Name ways God disappoints.
How does a person know the Holy Spirit has been given to them?
Is there a time when you needed (wished for) more from God?
Where do you feel the presence of God the most?
When do you feel the closest to Jesus?
Describe how each part of the Holy Trinity adds to your life.
What is the role of each part of the Holy Trinity? In general? In your faith life?

Closing Prayer

Leader: Father of all, I pray…

ALL: for those who feel alone and abandoned.

Leader: Creator, I pray…

ALL: for those looking for their purpose.

Leader: Son of God, I pray…

ALL: for those who seek healing from illness or hurt.

Leader: Lord of Lords, I pray…

ALL: for those in need of mercy and forgiveness.

Leader: Spirit of truth, I pray…

ALL: for those who need direction.

Leader: Advocate, I pray…

ALL: for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

Leader: Holy Trinity, I pray…

ALL: for your continued guidance and support.

Challenge for the Week: Explaining the Trinity to someone can be a challenge, you may not even really understand it yourself. However, if you are called to go out to all the world and make disciples of every nation, it is important for you to be able to describe your relationship with the Trinity. Spend time this week identifying who the Trinity is to you. This might require you to do some studying to learn more about Church teaching and/or to discuss with a friend or two how they view the Trinity.

Sunday, June 5th Readings

Pentecost

Opening Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

Renew my life

Lead my actions

Guide my words

Show me the way, home!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 2:1-11

Do you understand all that you believe? How does it become clear to you? Who makes it so?
How do you know the Spirit is here? What makes you know when the Holy Spirit is present and living and working?

1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Romans 8:8-17

How does the Spirit work to give you gifts? Can you develop new gifts?
What can you do to die to the flesh? Is there something you need to die to in order to live more deeply in the Spirit?

John 20:19-23 or John 14:15-16, 23B-26

What does the Holy Spirit have to do with forgiveness of sins? Explain.
How does the Holy Spirit help you keep the commandments? Give examples.

General Questions for Journaling

Is it possible to speak without words? How good/clear is the communication?
What do you speak without words? What do you communicate to the world?
Where do you see the Holy Spirit teaching today?
What is the Holy Spirit guiding you do?
Where is the Holy Spirit leading you?
What is the Holy Spirit giving you strength to accomplish?
What wisdom, knowledge or understanding is the Holy Spirit giving you in order to teach others?
How does the Spirit manifest itself in your life?
Do you carry around “dead weight” which takes up space within you? How can you release it and fill the space with the Holy Spirit?
Define advocate. How does this describe the Holy Spirit?

Closing Prayer (excerpts from Veni Sanctus Spiritus)