30th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Opening Prayer

Lord

Teach me to see like you see

Teach me to hear like you hear

Teach me to love like you love

Teach me to have a heart

which opens without fear or judgement.

I want YOUR love overflow onto everyone I meet.

Journal/Reflection Questions

Exodus 22:20-26

• How are you called, like the Israelites to repay God’s love? Identify 1-3 ways you show God love throughout the week.
• Does this scripture inspire you to reach out to someone? Perhaps God has placed it on your heart to help someone and you have been holding back. What specifically is God calling you to do?

1Thessalonians 1:5c-10

• Have you felt the “joy” from the Holy Spirit which Saint Paul is taking about? How can you channel this joy more often in your life?
• What does the Holy Spirit offer you? 

Matthew 22:34-40

• Jesus says the Greatest Commandment is LOVE. How do you show or express love to God? Your neighbors? Yourself?
• Did Jesus answer the question he was being asked? Why or why not? 

General Questions for Journaling

• Where is compassion found? Is it something taught (you can learn) or something you have naturally? How is it different than love?
• Consider how you respond to others. How do you treat people you know? How do you treat people you don’t know? How is it similar? How is it different?
• How do you show love? How do you receive love?
• Where do you see love in the world?
• Reflect on a time when someone showed you love. Did you welcome their love or reject it? Why?
• What are human expressions of love? What are examples of how God expresses His love?
• Does God put expectations on love? If yes, what are the expectations? If no, why not?
• Identify how you feel about putting forth your love for God to others. Is it something you are comfortable doing? Are you hesitant or afraid?
• Where would you rate how you love your neighbor on a scale of 1-10? Explain why you would give yourself this rating.
• Identify examples of how you can love God with all your heart. Mind. Soul. Are there different examples for each or are they all the same? 
• When have you recently felt God’s love for you? Explain the situation and how you know it was God.
• Draw a picture of God’s love.
• How does the Trinity help you to love your neighbor, even when they are difficult?

Closing Prayer – Poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of every day’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.

I love with a passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

Challenge for the Week:  This week think about how God’s love has made your life better.  What is it about how God loves you that makes this happen?  Describe how God’s love feels and then write a prayer of thanksgiving or draw a picture to show appreciation for what God gives you.  THEN, consider how you may be the only example of God’s love in a person’s life today and make a commitment to show other’s God’s love more freely!