29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Generous God

You give me food from heaven    

          so I have the nourishment I need.

You give me a source of water

          so I can be refreshed and clean.

You also give me friends

          so I can be supported when

          my load just seems to get to heavy.

Thank you Lord,

          for providing all of my needs.

AMEN

Journal/Reflection Questions

Exodus 17:8-13

• Moses needed the help of others to pray without ceasing. Who are the people in your life who help you stay faithful? 
• What does the scripture tell you about the importance of prayer?

2Timothy 3:14-4:2

• How are you challenged to use scripture in your life in this reading? What can you do to make this happen more regularly?
• How is the Gospel/Word of God lived out in the world today? Is it hard or easy to find? Is it easily recognizable or is it disguised?
• When has your faith been convenient? When has it been inconvenient? What does Saint Paul say you should do about it?

Luke 18:1-8

• How does this reading make you feel about prayer?
• What does this reading say about how God answers prayer?

General Questions for Journaling

• Who or what keeps you persistent in your prayer?
• Where do you go when you need help? Is help always given?
• Body language communicates much, so when you see Jesus with his arms stretched out, you can imagine the sacrifice He made on the cross. However, what else do outstretched arms say? What does it mean when you stretch out your arms in prayer?
• When was the last time you proclaimed the Word of God to others? Your spouse? Your friends? Your kids? Your co-workers? How was this done? What was their reaction?
• Who last proclaimed with word of God to you? Was it someone close to you? A stranger? Your church? How was it done? What was your response?
• How can you pray and NOT grow weary? Is it possible?
• Why is it difficult to pray regularly? What gets in your way? Are you able to keep a pattern of prayer for a long period of time? What keeps you disciplined to do pray regularly?
• When did you last ask others to pray for you? What was the situation? How did you feel knowing others were praying for you and with you?
• How can prayer change you?
• Have you ever felt like your prayers weren’t answered? Why or why not?
• When you pray are you ready to listen for the answer?
• Do you pray for those who judge you and for those whom you have judged? 
• Why should you pray petitions to God? Doesn’t He already know what you need?
• When did God answer your prayer? Was it in the way you expected?

• Have you experienced a prayer miracle? When was it? Who was there? What was the circumstance?
• Do you allow yourself to be vulnerable in your prayer? Do you ask God for what you need or what you want? Is there a difference?
• How can persistent prayer save you from your enemies?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  When I am weak

ALL:  may I find strength…everlasting!

Leader:  When I am blinded

ALL:  may I find my sight…everlasting!

Leader:  When I am weary

ALL:  may I find my contentment…everlasting!

Leader:  When I am lame

ALL:  may I find my healing…everlasting!

Leader:  When I am suffering

ALL:  may I find my blessing…everlasting!

Leader:  When I am alone

ALL:  may I find my Savior…everlasting!

Challenge for the Week:  Consider the following questions: What is the role of prayer in your life?  How do you pray?  When do you pray?  Is there a routine to your prayer?  Do you have a specific place where you pray?  Is there structure to your prayer or is it completely random?  Are there people whom you pray for?  Do you ask others to pray for you?  What value do you put on prayer?  Do you only pray for yourself and your loved ones or do you include people you don’t know?  Do you pray for specific things to happen?  Are your prayers general/generic?  Is your language formal or informal when you pray?  Do you pray by yourself or with others?  How important is prayer to your life?  Do others know how important/unimportant prayer is to you?  Spend time pondering these questions this week and then pray with purpose!

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