30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Loving God

You can hear a heart break.

You can feel a spirit crushed.

You can see dignity taken.

Through the scriptures, You give comfort!

AMEN

Journal/Reflection Questions

Sirach 35:13-14, 16-18

• How are the orphan, the widow and the oppressed lowly or humble?
• What does Pope Francis do to help the orphan, the widow and the oppressed? How can you help?
• How does this scripture assure you God hears your prayers?

2Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

• What does it mean to feel like you have been “poured out like a libation”? Have you ever felt like this?
• St Paul said he was “saved” because he trusted in God. What trials have you experienced where a little trust in God made a big difference?
• Saint Paul is telling Timothy that he is nearing the end, slowing down. How do you know when you need to start letting go of a project or being on a committee or even a friendship?

Luke 18:9-14

• Consider the Pharisees prayer. Is he praying to God or to himself? What is he truly saying?
• How do you identify with each of the people who went to the temple to pray?

General Questions for Journaling

• When you pray, do you pray with urgency? Are you specific in your request?
• How do you think prayer reaches God? Take a moment to consider. If you can’t put it into words, is it possible to draw a picture of the path your prayer takes?
• What are some of the evils that threaten the world, the community, the church/faith? What can you do to change these threats into blessings?
• How do you respond to the requests you get in a day? Are you quick to judge to pass on the requests of others? Do you let your needs and desires out-weigh those of others?
• When asked to be a part of something or to join a group or add a task to your schedule, do you turn to God for guidance on whether it is a good opportunity for you or not?
• Scripture proclaims that God never deserts His people but even the most faithful experience dry patches in their prayer life or relationship with God. What does scripture say to do to overcome these times when you feel abandoned?
• Pride is the counterpart to humility. Of what are you prideful? Does your pride get in the way of your humility? 
• Is all pride bad?
• How is true humility shown? Are there characteristics of humility? What are they?
• Do you know people who are humble? What makes them so?
• St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church, says in her writing on prayer, that the key to a relationship with God is true humility. What does she mean by this?
• Is it easy or difficult to call yourself a sinner?  Say it out loud.
• Jesus says to have ‘faith like a child’…how does this coincide with being humble?
• If you were God, how would you answer prayer? Would it be first come first serve? Would you have a system which prioritizes or categorizes prayers?
• Do you compare yourself to others? What do you compare? Physical things? Monetary things? Spiritual things?
• What drains the life from you? Are there daily tasks or just occasional things which cause you to feel empty?
• What are the things that fill you up and cause you to feel like you are overflowing with emotion (joy, excitement, fear, anxiety)?
• Draw the outline of a gingerbread person. Determine how full your tank is right now, how much do you have to give? In your job? Your relationship with spouse or significant other? To your kids/family?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Pour your love down

ALL:  and cover me!

Leader:  Pour your understanding down

ALL:  and cover me!

Leader:  Pour your patience down

ALL: and cover me!

Leader:  Pour your grace down

ALL:  and cover me!

Leader:  Pour your mercy down

ALL:  and cover me!

Leader:  Pour your love down

ALL:  and cover me!

Challenge for the Week:  Spend time this week considering what qualities a person needs to hear a cry and respond.  What are some of the cries you hear in your family or community?  What are some things you can do to lend a hand to satisfy the need?  Take these to prayer and consider carefully what God wants you to do to help in some of these situations.  It is easy to think, what difference can I make?  But when you partner with others, you can make an impact you might not think imaginable; especially when God has called you to service!

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Discipleship 5K: A Physical and Spiritual Journey to the Cross by Heather Neds, author of the Weekly Scripture Journal is more than a book, it is a guide to becoming a stronger disciple.  Grab and copy and start the journey!