Commandments

15^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Dear God

YOU created a complex world

and in it YOU give beauty beyond words.

YOU told the sun when to rise

and provide all creatures with their needs.

YOU wrote on the hearts of Your people

the desire to love and care for one another.

Let the material things and the lies of the world

be tossed away and take up space, no more.

Let YOUR Word fill me

until they overflow from my lips.

AMEN!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Deuteronomy 30:10-14

What do you do with all of your heart and soul? Are there a lot of things? A few?
How do know God has a plan for you?

Colossians 1:15-20

What do you learn about Jesus in this scripture?
What does it encourage you to do to be more like Jesus?

Luke 10:25-37

Identify your neighbors. What are their needs? How can you show them the love of God?
Have you seen this parable lived out in your life? When have you been robbed and left for dead? When have you been the one who passed by? When have you been the one who helped? When have you been like the innkeeper?

General Questions for Journaling

How do you hear the voice of God? When?
How often do you follow God’s voice/words when you hear them?
Where do you go to find purpose or meaning in your life?
What does it mean to have something “written on your heart”?
Who are your confidants? What qualities do they have that you go to them for advice?
Do you live your life so others know God is first? Or is someone else put first in your life? Spouse? Greed? Children? Self?
Does peace come to you or is it something you work for?
What does reconciliation feel like? Is it easy or difficult to achieve reconciliation?
Is there a limit to how much you can help another? Have you ever hit the limit?
When you are in need, are you open to others helping you? Why or why not?

Closing Prayer

Leader: When I feel I’ve hit a dead end and don’t know what to do…

ALL: YOU have the power to create a new path!

Leader: When I am left with nothing and don’t know what to do…

ALL: YOU have the power to share what I need!

Leader: When I feel lost and don’t know what to do…

ALL: YOU have the power to welcome with open arms!

Leader: When I am blinded by fear/money/arrogance…

ALL: YOU have the power to forgive my wrongs!

Leader: When I feel I am on empty and don’t know what to do…

ALL: YOU have the power to fill me up!

Leader: Father, giver all good things…

ALL: may I live my life in these truths!

Challenge for the Week: How are the commandments relevant today? Where do you see them lived out? Spend time this week re-writing the commandments to make them specific to you. Highlight the ones you struggle with so you can pay more attention to them.

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5^th Sunday of Easter

Opening Prayer

Generous Lord,

There is no limit to your love!

You come to me

and lead me to safety when I encounter danger.

You embrace me

and give me comfort when I stumble and fall.

You open the gate

and usher me through even when I turn away.

May I learn from YOUR generosity

and be more generous in my own life!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 14:21-27

Paul and Barnabas opened doors of faith to others; what doors do you open?
Who are the gentiles in the world today who need to hear God’s Word from you?

Revelation 21:1-5a

Describe how God has made things new in your experiences? What specifically was done?
What does it mean that “God’s dwelling is with the human race”? How is this lived out in the world?

John 13:31-33a, 34-35

How do you let God work through you? Do you believe you can work a miracle?
Where have you shared God’s love? Where have you received it?

General Questions for Journaling

How is faith expressed in your home? Is it the same or different than how you express your faith personally?
What traditions do you have in your family which flow from your faith?
Are there traditions you have in your family which you could tweak to add an element of faith?
How does your faith carry with you when you travel? Is it something you pack with you or do you leave it behind?
What are some of the things that make loving your neighbor so difficult? What stands in the way? How can you work to break down the obstacle(s)?
Where do you see examples of God’s selfless love? How has it been modelled for you?
When was the last time you did something with expectation? Where do you share God’s selfless love?
Where can you inspire positive change? How much effort would it take? Are there others who can help you?
How do you define the human race? What is human? Why race? Where is God in the definition?
Does God need to increase or decrease in your life? How does this happen?
Faith is like a bumper sticker on your soul. What does your bumper sticker say?

Closing Prayer

Leader: Lord, may I proclaim Your love