Fourth Sunday of Lent

 

Opening Prayer

Lord, Let us come to you,

when we are weak and weary.

Have us reach out to you,

when we don’t know the way.

May we cling to you,

when we are overcome…

with darkness AND with joy,

YOU, Father, are all we ever need!!!

Amen!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Joshua 5:9a, 10-12

• How does God care for the Israelite’s? How does He care for you today?
• The Israelite’s were guided to the Promised Land…can you relate your life to the journey of the Israelite’s? How is it similar?  How is it different?
• The Promised Land was home to the Israelite’s, how do you define home? What is home for you?

 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

• What do you give to Jesus to make Him righteous? How do your words or actions give Jesus “wings” or a “leg to stand on”?
• Read this scripture again and imagine you are in a courtroom. How does it play out in your head?  Can you find forgiveness?

 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

• What message does Jesus send with this parable? Can you list at least three?
• Where do you find yourself in the parable at this point in your life? Are you working hard, doing what you are supposed to be doing like the Older Son?  Are you squandering away the gifts God has given you like the Younger Son?  Can you find it in yourself to welcome the sinner home with open arms like the Father?  Are you a bystander, a witness?
• What emotions does this scripture stir up in you? How do these emotions direct you to action?
• Identify how the Father and the Son’s in this parable have changed because of the experience. Can they return to how they were?  Why or why not?

 

 General Questions for Journaling

• How is Lent like the Israelite’s wandering in the desert? What was their final destination?  How is that like our Lent/Easter?
• Like Passover, what traditions do you hold in your life as important? Do they have the same significance as they did when you were a child?  What makes them important?
• Where did your traditions come from? Are they hereditary?  Are they cultural?  Are they religious?  How do these traditions form you?  What makes them so sacred?
• Make a list of at least ten things that you use/consume that come from the earth. Can you also make a list of ten ways you work to conserve/protect the earth?
• What can you do to learn from God about how to forgive and forget?
• Is it easier to give forgiveness or ask for forgiveness? Why?
• Does Christ live within you? How do you know?  Can others tell?
• What characteristics of Christ do you see in yourself? Reflect on these gifts and determine what purpose God has for you to use them!
• How do you rejoice when you find something you have lost?

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Each time we turn our backs on you…

ALL:  Lord, you welcome us home!

Leader:  Each time we ignore your Words…

 ALL:  Lord, you welcome us home!

Leader:  Each time we whine and complain…

 ALL:  Lord, you welcome us home!

Leader:  Each time we go in the wrong direction…

ALL:  Lord, you welcome us home!

Leader:  Each time we say the wrong thing…

ALL:  Lord, you welcome us home!

Leader:  Each time we sin…

ALL:  Lord, you welcome us home!

 

Challenge for the Week:   Make a list of the synonyms of forgive.  How many can you come up with?  Try this week to use these synonyms in your life through word and action.  Where can you “restore harmony”?  Is there a “hatchet” you need to “bury”?  Once you have used all of the synonyms on yourself in your own life, see what injustices there are which you can help to “reconcile” in your community.  Aim to use each synonym you come up with at least once, get out there and “patch things up”!

 

Third Sunday of Lent

 

Opening Prayer

Lord

We are planted in the garden of life

starting as a tiny seed;

tucked away in the darkness.

Your word feeds us…Good works nourish us…

We struggle to break through

emerging ever slowly;

reaching toward the SON!

Your spirit sustains us…Love surrounds us…

Amen!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15

• Put yourself in the place of Moses…what do you feel? What do you do?  How are you called to action?  How are you called to conversion?
• Can you see evidence of the trinity in this scripture?

 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12

• What spiritual food and drink do you consume?
• What evil do you desire?

 Luke 13:1-9

• A gardener needs to pull weeds, cut off dead branches and prune in order to generate new growth; when have you seen new growth in your life from pulling, cutting and pruning?
• How is God like a gardener to the world? To you?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Where do you find holy ground? What is your definition?  What makes it holy?
• When have you witnessed something holy? Where were you?  Did you know it was holy at the time or was it revealed to you in retrospect?
• Is God’s voice clear and consistent or distant and hazy? What words do you use to describe God’s voice in your life?
• In what ways do you care for the earth? Do you do it out of obligation or another reason?  Be specific.
• How do you encourage or discourage others to care for the earth?
• How does care for the earth relate to your faith?
• What are some of the qualities you value in friendship? Who are the people whom you spend the most time?  What do you have in common with them?  What keeps you connected?
• Where does God/Jesus/Holy Spirit fall in line with your friends? What value do you place on your relationship with each of the members of the trinity?
• Are there some friends with whom you want to reconnect? What do you need to do to reestablish these relationships?  How can God help you do this?
• God wants us to tend to one another; what can you do to fertilize others around you?
• How do you cultivate your faith? What work do you do to keep your faith from producing bad fruit?  Share examples.
• How do you rate yourself as a giver of grace, mercy and forgiveness?
• How do you rate yourself as a receiver of grace, mercy and forgiveness?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  You call us by name…

ALL:  Here I am Lord!

Leader:  You wait patiently for our answer…

 ALL:  Here I am Lord!

Leader:  You walk with us through the desert…

 ALL:  Here I am Lord!

Leader:  You sit with us during the storm…

ALL:  Here I am Lord!

Leader:  You carry us when we turn away…

ALL:  Here I am Lord!

Leader:  You call us each to fulfill a purpose…

ALL:  Here I am Lord; find me READY!

 

Challenge for the Week:   In the first reading we see Moses’ conversion, his turning from the old ways and beginning anew with God.  When have you experienced a conversion?  During Lent each person is called to a conversion of self, turn away from sin and toward the Gospel.  We should be letting go of a bad habit or trying to practice a new life-giving habit.  Check in this week on how you are doing so far this Lent.  Have you made progress in developing a deeper relationship with God, yourself and others?  Can you see evidence of a conversion happening?  It is not too late to make this Lent a meaningful one…make sure you are on course for having a productive Lent!

Second Sunday of Lent

 

Opening Prayer

Father

Bring on the new day!

Allow my spirit to be awakened!

No more will I suffer, for YOU are my Lord!

I will keep your commands!

Your promises you keep!

Amen!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18

• Have you questioned your ability to achieve what God requests of you? Share an example.
• God gives Abram the stars to represent his promise. What has God used in your life to represent his promise to you?
• What does God ask for you to sacrifice for a relationship with him?

Philippians 3:17-4:1 or 3:20-4:1

• Do you know people who “shine”? Describe what this means.
• According to this scripture, what must you do?
• How can you better prepare yourself to achieve this?

 Luke 9:28b-36

• God’s voice comes from the cloud in this scripture, where else has God’s voice come from? Where have you heard God’s voice?
• How does being on a mountain top change one’s perspective?  Share a time when you have been on top of a mountain, what did you see, what did you feel?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• What is the difference between righteous and self-righteous? Can they lead you down the same path?  Why or why not?
• Does darkness come suddenly or does it creep up on you? Share an example.  Then compare the situation to your faith life.
• Do you trust God 100%? What keeps you from trusting God at all times, in all things?  Be specific and honest with yourself about what keeps you from trusting God all the way.
• Have you ever been afraid of the dark? What about the darkness frightened you?
• Describe the feeling you get when you come out of darkness into light.
• Would you describe yourself an being 1)lead blindly through life by God, 2)a consultant with God on your path in life, 3)going through life ready to face whatever comes your way
• Make a list of at least five things that boost your spirits. What happens within you when you get excited about something?
• Are you more often blinded by God’s goodness or blinded from God’s goodness? Explain and then give an example.
• Are you blinded by other things in your life? What are some of those things that can blind you from God’s goodness?
• What is the overall message you hear from these scripture readings?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Lord, let me remember, each day the sun rises…

ALL:  Light overcomes the darkness.

Leader:  Open my eyes to see the extraordinary in the ordinary…

 ALL:  Light overcomes the darkness.

Leader:  Allow me patience to find your presence in each moment…

 ALL:  Light overcomes the darkness.

Leader:  Help me be disciplined enough to always see you…

ALL:  Light overcomes the darkness.

Leader:  Even when I see nothing before me…

ALL:  Light overcomes the darkness.

 

 Challenge for the Week:   In the Gospel, something spectacular is revealed and Jesus tells the disciples not to tell anyone.  However, our instinct when we hear good news is to share it with everyone!  Reflect this week on how these disciples must have felt to not be able to share.  Would you have the discipline to keep this experience to yourself?

First Sunday of Lent

 

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father

You lead us through the desert places of our lives

so we may be refreshed and made new

You put before us a banquet feast to nourish us

so we may be filled with your goodness

You gave your life to show us love without conditions

so we may share that gift with others

Thank you Lord!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Deuteronomy 26:4-10

• What do you lay at the altar of God?
• How does being in the desert change your perspective?
• What good comes from this desert experience for the Isrealites? For you?

 Romans 10:8-13

• How do you proclaim Jesus as Lord? Is it evident you are a Christian through your words? Your actions? Both?
• When did you last call on God? What was it for and what was the response?
• How do you show love to God? How do you show God’s love for others?

 Luke 4:1-13

• The devil tempts Jesus to be self-glorifying; where do you see this behavior in the world today?
• How does the devil tempt you to turn away from God?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• When has God delivered you from a bad situation?
• Identify a time when you felt alone or abandoned. Can you look back and see God there with you?
• How does God nourish you? Do you allow God to nourish you?
• Describe what it feels like to be empty of God’s presence.
• Describe what it feels like to be full of God’s presence.
• Make a list of things you can bring to others between now and Easter to help you express your faith more openly.
• Are there people in your community/family who are crying out but you are ignoring them? Listen for what God wants you to do.
• What are the communities which you dwell? Give them each a rating on a 1-10 scale on how they show/share the Gospel message.
• How can love be blind?
• When did you first understand unconditional love?
• Does love require effort? Why or why not?
• How are you exercising your faith?
• How does having faith give power? What does faith have power over?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  We are called from the desert places

ALL:  to share your love with others.

Leader:  We are called from the desert places

 ALL:  to set captives free.

Leader:  We are called from the desert places

 ALL:  to visit the lonely and oppressed.

Leader:  We are called from the desert places

ALL:  to show mercy and kindness.

Leader:  We are called from the desert places

ALL:  to shine YOUR light for all to see!

 

Challenge for the Week:   Do you have a faith story?  Of course you do!  Just like in the business world where people have “elevator speeches” which describe and highlight their accomplishments and successes; Christians should have a faith story.  Spend time this week putting together your own personal faith story; include pivotal moments, desert places and mountain top experiences.  Include specific scripture passages which carried you through the bad times or sustain you in the good times.  Write it down and then put it in your Bible so it can be added to the many other stories of our salvation HIStory!

Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Lord

Give me eyes to see

the beauty in all things.

Allow me to speak

kindness with my words.

Teach me to live

so others might follow.

Let me be a vessel of THE GOOD NEWS!

Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Sirach 27:4-7

• What tests your faith? Is it a teaching of the church?  A way a person acts?  Bad things happening?  How do you keep your faith strong in spite of these tests?
• What is the lesson here about how to treat others? How can you put this scripture into practice today?  What specific thing(s) do you need to do?

 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

• In what ways can a person “labor for the Lord”?
• How do you protect yourself from being infected by negative, corrupt or immoral influence? Is there a way to avoid these things completely?  Why or why not?  What advice would you give to another person to help keep these things from spreading like a plague?

 Luke 6:39-45

• What does this scripture say about the importance of self-care and personal awareness of our words and actions? Be specific.  Make a list.
• What specific truth do you hear God speaking to you through this scripture?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• How do you tell if someone is speaking truth? How would you measure truth in your own words?
• Is there a time when judgment of a person is okay?
• Share a time when your first impression/judgment of a person was completely wrong.
• Have you ever felt you were judged wrongly? How did you handle the situation?
• Where does judgment in general come from? Do people judge out of love?  From insecurity?  From competitiveness or jealousy?
• Right Judgment is a gift of the Holy Spirit. How does the adjective “right” change your definition of judgment?
• Are there things in your life that weigh you down? Hold you back?  Keep you from moving forward?
• What do you hide or bury, keep out of sight of others?
• Share an example of when you found light in a dark situation or something positive from a negative? How did you find it?  Did you see it immediately or did it take time to realize?
• Describe the feeling, your emotions, how your body changes when you find a light at the end of a long tunnel of despair.
• Do you believe a person who is infected with negativity can change? Why or why not?  What do you believe your role is in that person’s life?
• Take time to draw your tree. Identify the fruit you produce, good and bad.  What influences you and how does it affect those around you?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  I will give thanks to you all of my days…

ALL:  for life given at conception!

Leader:  I will give thanks to you all of my days…

ALL:  for the sound of the ocean waves!

Leader:  I will give thanks to you all of my days…

 ALL:  for the morning dew glistening in the sunrise!

Leader: I will give thanks to you all of my days…

 ALL:  for the warm hug of a new friend!

Leader:  I will give thanks to you all of my days…

ALL:  for a fiery sky at the end of the day!

Leader:  I will give thanks to you all of my days…

 ALL:  for all you give; I will give thanks!

 

Challenge for the Week:   Spend time this week reflecting on your past experiences.  When you look back, you can identify those times in your life when you had to deal with something heavy or hard and maybe even had doubts on whether you’d be able to come out on the other side of the situation.  Often the world says these experiences leave marks or scars on a person (physically and/or emotionally) but when looking at them from God’s perspective, you have been “refined”.  These experiences of trouble, trauma, heartbreak, disappointment and even death are opportunities for you to grow.  When you are open and listening to God in these moments, you can learn something about yourself and perhaps even gain insight on others.  Revisit some of these times in your life to see if there are opportunities you have missed to reveal something in yourself or open you up to a new perspective on a relationship or a situation.  Allow God to refine you!

Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time   

 

Opening Prayer

Father

When you look at me,

You see me through loving eyes,

holy, forgiven and complete.

When I look at myself,

I see me through condemning eyes,

as a sinner and not enough.

Through your Word,

let me learn how to see me

and others as you see!

Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23

• How do you think those with David felt about his actions against Saul? What would you think if you were one of them?
• What does David’s response say about his character? Is there something there which you’d like to see more of in people today?  Be specific.

 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

• How do you struggle with the “earthly” and the “spiritual” within yourself?
• Have you thought of yourself as “spirit-filled”? How can the thought of being “spirit-filled” change how your look at the situations you face today?  How does it change how you treat others?

 Luke 6:27-38

• Do you give to God in the “measure” in which you want God to give to you? *(God gives 100%, 24/7 regardless of what we give)
• Is what Jesus is saying in this scripture realistic? Why or why not?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• How easy to difficult is it to put God in charge of transgressions and retributions? What is it about us as humans that make us want to take matters into our own hands?
• Do you believe one person’s life is worth more than another? For example, a mother of four vs an ordained sister, or a Leader of State vs a homeless person, explain.
• Have you experienced God’s faithfulness in your life? Share a specific example so others can see God’s faithfulness too.
• In your opinion, what makes a person “anointed”? What other opinions might be out there, explore.
• Can you spend quality time with people whom have different opinions and/or beliefs than you? Is this barrier too big to put aside for even a little while?
• Where do you rank respect on a scale of 1-10 in relationships? Is it different for your spouse?  Your parents?  Your boss?  Your kids?  Your friends?  Your pastor?  Your neighbor?
• When you look at yourself do you see God? In what way?
• Can you see God in others? Share examples.
• Are there people whom you have a hard time seeing God? Share examples.
• What measurement do you judge people against? What is the thing(s) that you judge the most?  Race?  Poverty?  Religion?  Job?  Clothing?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  In those moments when I feel abandoned…

ALL:  Pour your gift of love upon me!

Leader:  In those moments when I am filled with anger…

ALL:  Pour your gift of love upon me!

Leader:  In those moments when plans change…

ALL:  Pour your gift of love upon me!

Leader: In those moments when I receive the results…

ALL:  Pour your gift of love upon me!

Leader:  In those moments when I can’t see past today…

ALL:  Pour your gift of love upon me!

Leader:  In those moments when I lay myself before you…

ALL:  Pour your gift of love upon me!

 

Challenge for the Week:   This week consider the barriers we build in our lives to keep people at a distance.  Some of the barriers are built to protect us from being hurt ourselves or inflicting pain on another, while others are built out of arrogance because we are not open to listening to another person’s view.  Spend time this week reflecting on the barriers you have built in relationships, especially in your family.  How have these become obstacles to spending time together and not just time, but quality time, when you can come together and genuinely enjoy each other.  No one has the same experiences as you, nor the same opinion.  Even siblings raised by the same parents have different memories of the same experience; imagine the greater scale of this scenario to include experiences in your community, the US and the world.  What steps can you take to break down barriers starting in your family relationships and allow the differences bring you together instead of keeping you apart?  (HINT:  This just might be something that needs a bit more time than a week – Lent is coming!)

Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Jesus

Throughout the Bible are stories of hope

Open my eyes to see the hope in the world today

Let me hear the stories where hope is restored

And be a living example that hope never dies

Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Jeremiah 17:5-8

• Draw a picture of the two images described in this scripture.
• Share a time when you experienced both images, what was going on in your life, be specific about who was with you and what you felt.

 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20

• Does this scripture bring you hope? Explain how.
• How does the promise of the resurrection affect your faith? Be specific.

Luke 6:17, 20-26

• What is the overall message Jesus to sharing with the people who have gathered to hear him speak?
• What is the message Jesus has intended for you to hear in this scripture to help open your eyes to a situation in your life right now?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• How do you feel about God giving free will? Is it good?  Is it bad?  How does free will get you into trouble?  How does it free you?
• Are there choices you have made in your life which you wish you could change? Do you have the ability to do something about that choice now?
• Is it easy or difficult to change? Do you always get to choose to change?  How can making the choice to change affect your attitude?
• Who do you confide in to help make decisions? What qualities do you look for in a person who helps you?
• What draws you to ask God for help? Are there obstacles which keep you from seeking God’s advice in matters?
• How do you feel about trust? Is trust important to you?  Is it something people have immediately or do you believe people need to earn it?
• How much trust do you put in God? How much trust do you believe God has in you?
• Would you describe yourself as someone who is open to new ideas and new ways to do things or do you consider yourself someone who is comfortable with the way things are and have always been? Share an example.
• How would you explain the hope you have in the resurrection to someone who doesn’t know about Jesus?
• Do you believe faith is a choice you make every day or is a choice you made once and it stays with you?
• Share an example of a time when your faith was challenged; be specific about what you did, how you felt and the outcome.

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Let us rejoice

ALL:  in the rising of the sun!

Leader:  Let us rejoice

ALL:  in the delicate snowflake!

Leader:  Let us rejoice

 ALL:  in the blooming flower!

Leader: Let us rejoice

 ALL:  in the simplicity of a smile!

Leader:  Let us rejoice

ALL:  in the warmth of a hand!

Leader:  Let us rejoice

 ALL:  in the hope you give!

 

Challenge for the Week:   Do you have a faith story?  Of course you do!  Just like in the business world where people have “elevator speeches” which describe and highlight their accomplishments and successes; Christians should have a faith story.  Spend time this week putting together your own personal faith story; include pivotal moments, desert places and mountain top experiences.  Include specific scripture passages which carried you through the bad times or sustain you in the good times.  Write it down and then put it in your Bible so it can be added to the many other stories of our salvation HIStory!

Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Father God

Let me let go

You give me what I need

The peace of mind

To know that

I am your disciple

Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8

• Whom do you fear? Of what are you afraid?  Where does your fear come from?
• How to you tell God you are ready to do His will?

 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11

• Have you fallen asleep to the purpose you have been called for? What can you do to find the passion and drive to go on?
• How would you describe someone who is “fit” to serve God?

 Luke 5:1-11

• When have you doubted God? What was your situation?  How did God change your heart?
• Are there people who are in deep waters who need you to come and bring them to the shore?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• How has God made you worthy of His love?
• Have you ever been paralyzed by fear? What was the situation?  How did you overcome the fear?
• How has your life been shaken up? Where was God during the storm?
• What has God called you to do? Do you minimize the importance of your purpose?
• How many people from the Bible (old and new testaments) can you name who encountered God but felt they were not worthy?
• How many people from the Bible (old and new testaments) can you name whose lives were changed when they took a leap of faith to trust God entirely?
• How is grace distributed?
• Do you think God gives you grace for your benefit or the benefit of others? Both?  Neither?
• What “work” is required to receive faith? Grace?  Love?
• Do you think God asks you to do things you are not capable or qualified to do? Why or why not?
• How do you go about asking someone to do a big task? Do you just give them the big task or do you break it down into some smaller tasks to make sure they will be able to handle the big task?  Be specific.

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Lord, who will show comfort…

ALL:  I will Lord, send me!

Leader:  Lord, who will visit the sick…

ALL:  I will Lord, send me!

Leader:  Lord, who will forgive…

 ALL:  I will Lord, send me!

Leader: Lord, who will show kindness…

 ALL:  I will Lord, send me!

Leader:  Lord, who will give mercy…

ALL:  I will Lord, send me!

Leader:  Lord, who will sing your praises…

 ALL:  I will Lord, send me!

Leader:  Lord, who will spread the Gospel…

 ALL:  I will Lord, send me!

 

Challenge for the Week:   Spend time reflecting this week on a time in your life that is comparable to the experience of the fishermen…when was God asking you to do something you didn’t want to do because you thought you had exhausted all possibilities.  Did you do as He asked anyways?  Did you choose to ignore the suggestion and go a different direction?  Regardless of which path you took, share your story with someone to show how God blew you out of the deep water and onto the shore and how you would do it all over again (the same or differently) as a witness of your faith.

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Father

You knew us before we were born

You know where our paths lead

You continue to love and guide us

You open your arms to welcome us home!

Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19

• Jeremiah is trying to stir up the people to prepare for battle; what battles are you gearing up for which requires you to be firm in your faith and understanding of who God is to you?
• Who cries out for peace and justice today? What do they say?  Do people believe and follow?
• What are you willing to stand up to protect? Share an example.

 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 or 13:4-13

• What does this scripture tell you about love? Have you seen love like this?
• How do you learn of love? How is love taught?  Where does it come from?  Does love have limits?  Is there a capacity for love?
• What does hope bring to your life? What does faith bring?  What does love bring?  How do the three things work together?

 Luke 4:21-30

• What does it mean to be humble? How is humility shown in this scripture?
• Are there people in your life whom you have a hard time believing? What is it that causes you not to trust their words or actions?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Are there things in your life which you are willing to die for?
• What are things which require a fight? Are you fighting or simply a spectator?
• Do you feel called to step up and step in to lessen an injustice? What holds you back?
• Where does your strength to fight an injustice come from? Is it provoked from outside or stirred up from inside?
• Share an example where dealing with conflict in a peaceful manner gave the desired result. Share an example where dealing with conflict with aggression gave the desired result.  Which is the better way?
• Does God ask too much of you? When?  How?
• Can good come from bad things? How does one grow through conflict?
• Can you love too much? Why or why not?
• Can you be loved too much? Why or why not?
• Where have you seen love fail? What initiated the breakdown and what was the result of the failure?
• Share an example of when love broke down hate, either a personal experience or one you witnessed.
• Is it easy or difficult to change an attitude? What are some key factors in doing so?
• How does the name of Jesus provoke you to love?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader: You created me out of love…

ALL:  without YOU I am nothing!

Leader:  You breathed life into me…

ALL:  without YOU I am nothing!

Leader:  You gave me a purpose…

 ALL:  without YOU I am nothing!

Leader: You laid out the laws…

 ALL:  without YOU I am nothing!

Leader:  You cleared a path…

ALL:  without YOU I am nothing!

Leader:  You surrendered and died…

 ALL:  without YOU I am nothing!

Leader:  You rose and gave me new life…

 ALL:  without YOU I am nothing!

 

Challenge for the Week:   Make a list of ways people can say and show love.   How many can you come up with?  Are there ways in which love can be expressed that you don’t feel comfortable sharing?  When you give love, do you always get love in return?  Sometimes we do and other times the love we give isn’t reciprocated…is that a requirement of love?  Be mindful of the love you give this week, does it have limits, restrictions, requirements?  Does the love you receive from others?  Reflect on the second reading as you focus on love; what is your heart needing to hear?

Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

Opening Prayer

Lord

Teach me to be holy

as you are holy!

Teach me to listen

as you listen!

Teach me to give

as you give!

I am ready to do your will!
Amen

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

• Throughout this scripture, Nehemiah tries to make sure we understand Ezra did everything he could to help the people understand. What is the purpose of this?
• Where do you see this act of bringing people together to teach happening in the world today? Do you agree or disagree that they are attentive to everyone understanding?  What can they learn from this scripture so they succeed in their goal of people being in one accord?

 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 or 12:12-14, 27

• What does this scripture say to you about yourself? What does it day about community?
• Where do you see division and suffering in the world today? In your family?  Within yourself?  What wisdom from this scripture can shine light on the situation?  Be specific.
• Choose one thing you can do to live out this scripture today.

 Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

• Say out loud how the scripture was fulfilled. Proclaim it like Jesus!
• When you proclaim it, how do you feel? Do you believe it about Jesus?  Do you believe it about yourself?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• What makes a day more special than another? What value do you put on a day such as your birthday or an anniversary?
• How do you determine a day to be Holy? What do you think God’s criteria would be to describe a day as Holy?
• What value do you find in looking to the past?
• How do you view the future and the past? Share an example of how each affects you right now in the present.
• Are there books you have read more than once? What are they?  What is the purpose of reading them again?
• Same with TV shows…are there shows you have watched more than once? What are they are why do you watch them again?  Explain the value of experiencing it again.
• What is your most favorite thing about yourself? Explain
• What super power would you most like to have and why?
• Point out special gifts you see in ten people this week. You can do it in person (preferred) or send a note.
• What do you believe and know in your heart strongly enough to stand up and proclaim to others?

 

Closing Prayer (inspired by Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15)

Leader: Lord, your Word is wisdom…

ALL:  help me see your way!

Leader:  Lord, your Word is enlightening…

ALL:  open me to your light!

Leader:  Lord, your Word is trustworthy…

 ALL:  let me know your truth!

Leader: Lord, your Word is fair…

 ALL:  teach me your precepts!

Leader:  Lord, your Word is enduring…

ALL:  show me your heart!

Leader:  Lord, you Word is life…

 ALL:  fill me with your WORD!

 

Challenge for the Week:   Create a pie chart which represents how much time you spent thinking about past events, situations and experiences, how much time you spend planning and hoping for the future, and how much time you give to thinking about what you are doing right now in the present.  Use some of these things to help you determine your answer…What is the topic of your conversations?  What do you pray about?  What books do you read?  What do you watch on TV?  What hobbies do you participate in and why?  For further reflection you can create a pie chart as you see it before reflection and then make another one after reflection and compare.