14^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Christ within me,

How I struggle!

I move forward but leave you behind.

I trip and fall, then cry out to you.

My heart knows you are with me.

My will says I can do it alone.

It is a constant battle!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Zechariah 9:9-10

• The scripture describes a king riding in on a donkey…how do these things go together (King and Donkey)? Where do you see these together in the New Testament?  Share how the two passages are similar and different?
• Share a time when God won a victory for you. What was the battle?  What did you struggle with and how did God help you overcome the obstacle?

Romans 8:9,11-13

• What burdens/benefits come from being human vs. divine?
• If the Holy Spirit dwells in you, how does this change your perspective of yourself? What about if it dwells in others?  Does it affect your perception of them?  How and why?

Matthew 11:25-30

• What does it mean that God’s yoke is easy?
• Describe what it feels like to ‘rest’ in God. What does it look like, smell like, taste like, sound like?

General Questions for Journaling

• How did Jesus show humility? Share specific examples for us to follow.
• Is humility a leadership quality? Why or why not?
• Do your actions towards others show your love for God? Share a recent example.
• How can you tell if the Holy Spirit dwells in you? In others?
• When might it be necessary to ‘banish’ someone from your life? What actions could be taken to do this?
• Have your actions ever caused division between you and another person? How did your relationship with God help or hinder the situation?
• What actions can be taken to overcome the temptations of the flesh? Have you experienced the rewards described in scriptures for doing so?
• When have you felt the most burdened? How do you overcome it?  What helps to lighten the load?
• What characteristics of the ‘flesh’ do you wish to shed?
• What characteristics of the ‘spirit’ do you wish to take on?
• Imagine a time when you were exhausted and didn’t have any strength to continue. Describe this feeling.  Where did you find strength to carry on?
• What burdens do you carry? Are there burdens you allow others to carry for you?  Are there burdens you carry which are the responsibility of others?
• Explain how the Father, Son and Spirit work together.

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Come, dwell in me…

ALL:  let me know meekness.

Leader:  Come, dwell in me…

ALL:  let me know humility.

Leader:  Come, dwell in me…

ALL:  let me know weakness.

Leader:  Come, dwell in me…

ALL:  let me know burdens.

Leader:  Come, dwell in me…

ALL:  let me know hunger and thirst.

Leader:  Come, dwell in me…

ALL:  let me know hurt.

Leader:  Come, dwell in me…

ALL:  so I may find rest!

Challenge for the Week:  Come to me all who are burdened and worried, I will give them rest.  Imagine a parent saying this to a child whose bedtime is quickly approaching and is showing signs of restlessness and weariness.  These words call out to the child just like they call out to you in order to soothe your spirit.  The restlessness melts away when the child is swept up into the secure arms of their parent; they know they are safe, taken care of and loved.  This is what Jesus wants for you too.  God wants you to let go and relinquish the stress and strain of the day so you can fall into His arms and let Him minister to you.  Identify the things in your life which keep you from experiencing this peace of resting in God.  What can you do to move the obstacles which stand in the way of this kind of rest?

“O Jesus!  Yoke us to yourself.  When we too hunger, give us food.  When we too thirst, or tire, or falsely witness, just let us learn to find you and to find ourselves in you!” – from a sermon by St. Augustine

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