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Posts Tagged ‘Baptism’
Download 5th Sunday Easter Yr B
Reflection Questions
- God is a God of surprises but the disciples were afraid of Saul. They could not imagine the greatest source of persecution could ‘turn-around’. The situation required someone courageous like Barnabas. He had the knickname ‘son of encouragement’. He had witnessed Saul in Damascus and stepped up to being a mentor. A link. Introduced Paul to the Apostles. Imagine the loss for the Church if Barnabas hadn’t ‘taken charge of him’? Who is on the ‘outside’ of your group, community, workplace whom you could include?
- Barnabas and Paul show us the cost of the committed christian life. They are ‘radicals’. They go a bit further. Without people like Barnabas and Paul the Church is stagnant. Paul’s first preaching experiences to the Hellenists (Greeks) in Damascus and Jerusalem ended with attempts to ‘kill him’. And yet both Paul and Barnabas did not stop. Have you met resistance in preaching the message of life and peace of Jesus? Do you have a safe place like Paul’s home in Tarsus to retreat to when necessary?
- LOVE is lived. It looks like something. Too easily love can stay in ‘word or speech’ and not make it to ‘deed and truth’. What love action could you commit to this week that you have struggled with for a while? What words or promises have you made but you have failed to back up with action?
- The image of the Gospel this Sunday is of life flowing through the vine into the branches. ‘Remain in me’ repeats itself 6 times! Remain in me is different from remain close to me or read my book. How could you go 1 step further in praying with scripture, celebrating the sacraments, living christian community?
- The intimacy of the ‘vine’ image for John’s gospel is a description of the church and the individual disciple. In baptism we were truly joined to Jesus’ mystical body the Church. In the eucharistic union of our lives with the body and blood of Jesus in ‘holy communion’ we are called to bear the ‘fruit’ of replicating the life of Jesus in the world. Pray with the idea of being ‘fruitful’ and bringing ‘glory’ to the Father. What do you begin to think about?
- Jesus shares that the experience of praying with his Word is like being ‘pruned’. Have you experienced the scriptures ‘cutting’ and bringing you pain? Yet also directing you to what is life-giving?
- What is one action that you will do to be ‘livingtheword’ this week?
Download 4th Sunday Lent Yr B (RCIA)
Download 4th Sunday Lent Yr B
4th Sunday of Lent has Samuel doing an incredibly difficult task – making another King while one is still on the throne! And a blind man now sees – and faces the consequences of rejection from the synogogue and community for believing in Jesus. Knowing and living for Truth and God has challenging consequences!
The Readings for those not having RCIA candidates in your parish has the incredible story of King Cyrus – a Persian king – who actually frees God’s people and helps them build the Temple. Nothing is impossible for God. Combined with this with have the story of Nicodemus, a leading Jew, trying to make his way to Jesus under the cover of darkness. Blessings on the praying, fasting and giving! Enjoy and share.
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Note. Weeks 3,4,5 of Lent have alternate readings available for parishes with people preparing for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion. The alternate readings are from Year A. Two options are provided below: 3rd Sunday Lent Yr B with RCIA Readings & 3rd Sunday Lent Yr B
Download 3rd Sunday Lent Yr B RCIA
Download 3rd Sunday Lent Yr B
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Download 1st Sunday Lent Yr B
Reflection Questions
- The season of Lent begins with the receiving of ashes on Ash Wednesday. If you were not able to attend Ash Wednesday ask your priest if he could mark the ashes on your forehead with a prayer on Sunday. Or you may consider placing your thumb in soil and marking yourself with the sign of the cross. It takes a physical experience to remind us of something beginning. Consider Ash Wednesday like arriving at the starting line of a race. We need to be present and committed – when the starting gun goes off we need ‘begin’ the journey to the finish line of Easter. Are you psychologically ‘ready’? What will the spiritual practices of ‘Prayer’ ‘Fasting’ and ‘Alms-Giving’ involve for your daily / weekly routine?
- In the season of Lent, the First and Gospel readings are not specifically linked, but independently teach us a truth about God and ourselves. The word describing the ‘Ark’ built by Noah, is also used for the ark carrying baby moses to safety, the ark holding the special tablets of the commandments and symbolic of the Ark of the Church. God has made a covenant / promise to protect and be with those who belong to him. Have you ever had an experience or sign showing God’s protection for you? Can you see the Church as an ‘Ark’ today? How?
- The Second readings of Lent teach us the meaning of Baptism. The cleansing of Baptism waters is not washing away physical dirt, but literally a ‘putting away of filth’ as one now living in Christ. Lent becomes a time of renewed effort in living our christian identity. What do you recognise needs to be ‘put away’ from your life? What is the first step on this journey?
- Jesus responded to the Spirits inspiration into the Desert. To help create a prayer-full lent, what place and time each day can you identify that will work for you? How could you symbolise beginning this journey?
- Being in the desert for 40 days links to Israel being in the desert for 40 years. A time of testing, proving loyalty, closer union with God. As Adults, Lent is not a season for child-like practices of giving up lollies. It is a journey facing struggle and sin, being ‘tested’, proving my loyalty to God. Is my Lenten commitment serious enough? Do I consider it will bring me closer to God?
- “The angels ministered to him.” God does not leave us alone. Angels are provided. Literally, Angels mean ‘good message bearers’. In my Lenten journey and wilderness experience who are some ‘angels’ that God may have already placed in my life to support me but I have not responded to. Is there someone you could ask to accompany you on your journey of Lent? It could be just the help you need!
- Repent and believe the gospel. This is Jesus’ first public words ever spoken. The greek word is metanoia – change, physically turn your life around. What do I know needs to change to find wholeness in my life?
- How will you ‘livetheword’ this week?
Download Ascension Sunday Yr A
Reflection Questions
- The writer of the Gospel of Luke is also understood to have written the Acts of the Apostles. In Acts, we learn of the unfolding events after Easter. The Feast of the Ascension is not trying to claim historically after 40 days Jesus ‘ascended’ but simply reflect on his ‘Ascension’ and new presence now in Heaven. Jesus states a promise has been made by the ‘Father’ to send the Holy Spirit. Have you ever asked someone to make a ‘promise’? Why? What does this reveal about Jesus and ‘us’?
- The disciples are almost ‘told off’ by the Angels. ‘Why are you looking up at the sky?’ Instead of looking up, look around and get to work. The text also encourages a waiting for the spirit and its power so that each disciple can ‘witness’. Have you ‘waited in prayer’ calling for the gift and promise of the Holy Spirit? Consider how you could enter deeply into this prayer request leading to the celebration of Pentecost next week? Consider a place and time. The Spirit is often given through other people’s prayer. Who could you ask?
- The letter to the Ephesians describes what the Spirit can bring about in us constantly in the life of the Church. What part of the prayer attracts your attention… wisdom, revelation, knowledge, enlighten, hope, call, glory, great might….? Why do you feel the attraction? What may this reveal about a possible prayer journey with the Holy Spirit leading to Pentecost?
- Putting things ‘beneath his feet’ is an ancient idea of authority and power. Kings and Queens were often raised to a height so that all who would come to visit would approach at the level of their feet. Consider Jesus having ‘all power and authority’. Nothing is beyond the possibility of his doing. What would you often pray for knowing you can call upon this ‘power’?
- Some disciples fell down and worshipped but others doubted. Matthew includes this acknowledgment of the persistent weakness and failure present always in the Church. Does this weakness of disciples give you comfort or cause you to complain? In your journey of worship and doubt what has helped you remain a disciple? How could you help a ‘doubter’?
- Jesus is not an absentee landlord. The Matthew text does not actually state Jesus has ‘left’. There is still the struggle displacing the grip of Satan and completing the ‘reign of God’. This is why he clothes his disciples with his power to continue in his work. How is Jesus present ‘until the end of the age’? How do you continue ‘his presence’?
- What is one action that you will do to ‘livetheword’ this week?
Download: 4th Sunday Lent Yr A
- Reflection Questions Remember Samuel as a young boy, woken in the middle of the night by the voice of God (1Sam 3:4). Now trained in the discipline of listening and doing what God asks Samuel now faces an incredible challenge: God is asking him to find and anoint a new King (while King Saul is currently still alive!) This would be treason. Consider the emotions and struggles of Samuel? What struggle can you identify with? How might God be inviting you to ‘fill your horn with oil, and be on your way?
- Some translations emphasize that David was a young boy, with a fresh and clear appearance. He is not big, has no military training or obvious talent for battle. To the human ‘eye’ and ‘outward appearance’ this is not a wise choice for a King and future military leader. But this public calling and anointing, this ‘baptism’ of David changes everything. No longer would he suffer psychologically from his fathers ‘smallest’ ‘weakest’ viewpoint. When the Lord looks into your heart what does he ‘see’?
- This text from St Paul to the Ephesians is thought to be part of an ancient baptismal liturgy: baptism calls us to bring our lives into the ‘light’. As Easter approaches, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is one practice that leads us to bring our struggles into the light of Jesus for help and guidance. Awake from sleep and death! Ponder for a few minutes what you would like to bring to the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Lent?
- Gospel stories from John are used to encourage baptism candidates on the final journey to Easter. Today’s story is in the context of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles involving water and light. Water from the pool of Siloam was taken into the temple, thrown upon the Altar, which then ran out from the temple into the ‘world’. It symbolised God’s Temple and People called to be like Water for the world. Also large candles with wicks made from the Priest’s vestments lit up the Temple and courtyard symbolising God’s Temple and People called to be like Light for the world. Can you see in the text how Jesus in John’s Gospel uses and yet replaces these symbols? What is John trying to show us?
- The early Christian Church used the reality of being ‘blind’ and receiving ‘sight’ as an image of the journey to Baptism. Baptism was even called a ceremony of ‘enlightenment’. From blind ‘darkness’ to seeing ‘light’ is possibly the greatest transformation that can take place for a person. Seeing becomes symbolic of knowing ‘truth’. Truth is gradually clearer for the blind man (baptismal candidate) regarding Jesus’ identity. Unstated is the reality that belief in Jesus will see the man now rejected from the synagogue and community. Can you see your journey in the blind man?
- What is one action that you will do to ‘livetheword’ this week?
Download: 20th Sunday Yr C – The Assumption of Mary
The Assumption of Mary. Pope Pius XII asked all Bishops in 1950 if their congregations believed that Mary was assumed into heaven. 98 percent answered Yes. The Pope recognised that God was speaking through the Church and the sense of faith of the ‘faithful’. Mary’s assumption – being taken up – does not mean she did not die but after her ‘sleeping’ she was taken body and soul into heaven. We as Christian disciples hope to follow after her.
Reflection Question 4: The historical site of the Visitation is in the small village on the outskirts of Jerusalem called ‘Ein Karem’. In the Church of the Visitation there are large bronze figures of Mary and Elizabeth, their two pregnant tummies almost touching as they greet each other. A conversation happens between Elizabeth and Mary, but also between John and Jesus. The Old Testament is meeting the New Testament. Zechariah, the High Priestly family, the Jewish Priesthood, is meeting the New Priesthood of Christ. God’s promises of old, now fulfilled. The long waiting of the Old Testament is now turned to ‘leaping for joy’. The Ark of the Covenant which King David ‘leaped for joy’ before (2 Sam 6,5) is now fulfilled with John leaping for Joy before Mary, bearing Christ and the new covenant’. In the baby and disciple John we see our own leaping for joy in the Church before the Eucharist. What image strikes you the most? What could it teach you for your life?
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Download 17th Sunday Yr C
Reflection Question 3: In Middle Eastern Cultures ‘honour’ is extremely important. Abraham uses God’s honour and leans on God’s name and reputation being ‘held high’. In your own family / culture or school / workplace, have you experienced a request to keep the ‘family name’ upheld, the ‘school reputation’ in good standing in the community or to represent your culture ‘well’? Why was this considered important? What happened? Do you consider yourself bearing the name / honour / reputation / image of God? The Church? Does this affect your behaviour in any way?
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