Easter Sunday

Sunday, April 17th Readings

EASTER SUNDAY

Opening Prayer

Savior

Each new day brings

new promise

Even when it is dark

and cold and rugged

The path to YOU

is filled with opportunity

To walk with YOU

is a great adventure!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 10:34, 37-43

  • How is your life a witness to all God has accomplished through Jesus’ birth, teachings, miracles, parables, suffering, death, and resurrection? Reflect and see if you can come up with an example of how each experience has been lived out in your life. Allow God to speak to you through each reflection.
  • Identify your source of strength when you witness (testify) to God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, etc.

Colossians 3:1-4

  • How have you died to allow God to live?
  • What about heaven do you most long for? Describe what you will see, feel, hear, touch and smell.

John 20:1-9

  • Can you relate to the fear the women and the disciples had when they saw the tomb open? Share a specific experience and how it affects your perspective.
  • What makes you believe in Jesus’ resurrection? How do you believe in what you have not seen?

General Questions for Journaling

  • Reflect on your Lent. What is one theme or similar reoccurrence that happened; what can you learn from the experience? What might God want you to learn? Could God have made you witness to these situations in order to communicate with you? What message are you called to carry through Easter?
  • What is it about Jesus that you love? Be specific and explain your answer.
  • Where do you turn when you are seeking an answer to a decision or facing a hard choice? Where is Jesus in the decision-making process?
  • How do you hide your faith from others? Who are those whom you hide your faith from and why? Are the people whom you hide your faith the ones who most need to hear the message?
  • Draw a picture of your heart. What does it look like? What does it contain? Use your imagination to create an image of the condition of your heart.
  • Where do you see compassion lived out in the world, your community, your family? From your view is compassion in a draught season or a harvest season? Give an example.
  • Does compassion come easy for you or is it something you work hard to share? What is the difference?
  • Where have you experienced compassion this Lent? Did this experience bring you closer to God? Why or why not?
  • Describe what it means to be at peace.
  • How has your Lenten experience helped you prepare for the Triduum?
  • What fear has kept you from experiencing Lent fully? Be specific.
  • How did what you gave up or took on this Lent help you to grow in relationship with Jesus? How did it help you to grow in relationship with others? How has it changed you?

Closing Prayer

Leader: May I surrender myself

ALL:  for the sake of the Gospel.

Leader:  May I pursue justice

ALL:  for the sake of the Gospel.

Leader:  May I seek and give reconciliation

ALL:  for the sake of the Gospel.

Leader:  May I turn away from sin

ALL:  for the sake of the Gospel.

Leader:  May I relinquish my own will

ALL:  for the sake of the Gospel.

Leader:  May I open the tomb within

ALL:  and live out the Gospel!

Challenge for the Week:  This week try to keep count of the positive things you witness and use your words and actions to encourage those who displayed the behavior. Then try to use the examples you “witnessed” to be a “witness” (testify) to the good you saw in others. It could be something as simple as sharing how you saw someone open and hold the door for another, witnessed a simple act of kindness or charity, or were witness to an act of mercy or forgiveness. It is easy to get complacent after surviving Lent and Holy Week. This challenge can help you keep your focus on the goodness of God and not be tempted by evils in the world and slide into thinking of yourself first. Remember, the disciples didn’t stand still once they discovered the tomb was open. They went out and began to spread the Good News, being witness of all Jesus came to share. This Easter, allow Jesus’ light to shine through your words and actions!

GET CONNECTED DAILY!  Find more reflections and prayers at Making Scripture Relevant on Facebook and Instagram.  Join the Weekly Scripture Journal email list by contacting heather@makingscripturerelevant.com

Sunday, April 25th Readings

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Opening Prayer

Abba Father

I hear your voice

        and I follow.

I am comforted by

        the sound.

It is clear.

Lord, YOU are with me!

AMEN!

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 4:8-12

  • Peter explains the significance of Jesus in this scripture.  In your own words, explain the significance of Jesus in your life or in the world.
  • Is Jesus the cornerstone of your life?  Give examples.

1 John 3:1-2

  • Compare and contrast your relationship with God as a father and a child.  Is this easy or difficult to do?  Explain.
  • Has Jesus revealed anything to you?  How will you/do you know when Jesus reveals a message to you?

John 10:11-18

  • What makes Jesus the “good” shepherd?  Can you list 5 things?  10?
  • For what are you willing to lay down your life?  A person?  A cause? 
  • In what way do you relate to the good shepherd?  Be specific.
  • Why is there only one shepherd?  What consequences or difficulties could arise if there were more than one?

General Questions for Journaling

  • When did you go out of your way to do a good thing for another person?  What was the occasion?
  • Does doing good for others come naturally for you or do you find yourself needing to work at it? 
  • What do you think causes kindness to others to come naturally or not?
  • Name some of the obstacles in your life right now.  What are you doing to overcome them or are you waiting for God or someone else to remove the obstacles or make it easier for you to overcome?
  • Do you know someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus?  What is their reason for not believing?  It is because they don’t know Him or is it something else?
  • What might be some reasons someone would not believe if Jesus?  If the elders of his time tried to discredit him, what are some things people today could say to try to discredit Jesus?
  • Have you ever been given responsibility for someone else’s possessions?  Did you care for them as though they were your own?  Why or why not?
  • How do you define love?  Is there one type of love or several?  If there is more than one, what are they types of love?
  • Describe the feeling of knowing you are loved.  What adjectives do you use to describe love?  Is your description the same as others?
  • Share a story of a time when you felt safe.  Describe the surroundings, the smells, what you saw and what you heard.

Closing Prayer

Leader:  The Lord calls my name…

ALL:  and I listen.

Leader:  The Lord calls my name…

ALL:  and I wait.

Leader: The Lord calls my name…

ALL:  and I surrender.

Leader:  The Lord calls my name…

ALL:  and I respond.

Leader:  The Lord calls my name…

ALL:  and I rejoice.

Leader:  The Lord calls my name…

ALL:  and I am complete!

Challenge for the Week:  Have you ever considered what kind of parent God is?  While there are only four specific parenting styles, there are several articles which highlight a variety of different types of parenting.  To name a few, there is a “drill sergeant parent” who commands and directs the lives of children.  There is the “oblivious parent” whom is not aware of or concerned about what is happening with their children.  Another nickname for a type of parent is the “MIA parent” which is as you’d assume correctly is a parent whom is not present at all.  One of the more popular types is the “helicopter parent” whom is overprotective and discourages a child’s independence by being too involved in the child’s life and swoops in at any sign of challenge or discomfort.  Does one of these types fit God?  Do you believe God parents each one of us in the same way?  What type of parent would you say God is?  What type of parent do you want God to be?  Spend time this week in reflection on the Father, God and give thanks and praise for all God’s grace!