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Posts Tagged ‘catholic’
Download 3rd Sunday Lent Yr A
Reflection Questions:
- Week 3, 4, 5 of Lent in Year A features Gospel of John readings. These are specially inserted for helping people preparing for Baptism at Easter. They contain powerful symbols of water (quenching our thirst), light (a blind man sees) and the gift of life (raising Lazarus from death). Reflect on the image of sitting in the heat of the midday sun beside a well. What would you feel? Think about? Do? What questions would you ask Jesus? Spend 5 minutes imaginatively praying into this scene. What happened?
- It was unusual for a woman to collect water in the heat of the day alone. She does not like it. The longer gospel text reveals she has had 5 ‘husbands’. Has she been hurt by the gossip of other women? Her journey is our journey. How do you personally relate to the journey of this gospel encounter with Jesus?
- Jesus breaks the biggest social barrier and enters into a relationship with a despised enemy (Jews do not associate with Samaritans). Jesus sits with her, talks, asks for help, offers her life that will quench her ‘thirst’ forever. A rejected outsider becomes a disciple and the only person to evangelise a whole community in the gospel of John! What does the experience of inclusion change within the Samaritan woman? How could you life show Jesus’ attitude of inclusion this Lent?
Download: 25th Sunday Yr C
Reflection Question 4: The rich man has a dishonest steward, but Jesus concludes by praising some of the dishonest stewards actions. The steward has just lost his job. Before everyone finds out, he has a crafty but risky plan. He will not charge the full interest and commission on the debt. He will win friends and those in debt will also praise the honour of the rich land owner believing that the master is truly honorable in not charging them interest on their ‘loan’. Jesus comments that worldly people are often more creative and faithful to their goals and use of money to build ‘their kingdom’ than are spiritual people. How could you creatively use money to build the ‘Kingdom of God’. Have you considered any creative fund raising project which could serve the poor? Have you shared your wealth and shown a preferential option for the poor recently?
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Download Document:18th Sunday Yr C
Reflection Question 3: Rabbi’s were expected to make decisions on religious and civil matters. Yet Jesus chooses not to be the ‘judge’ of this inheritance dispute. He is not interested in property but he is interested in talking about ‘greed’. St Paul in the second reading referred to greed as ‘idolatry’ – replacing God. Have you ever considered your answer to the question: ‘What is enough?’ (money, car, savings, food allowance, clothing). What is a benchmark that when you have reached it you now have a duty to ‘share’? On a spectrum of ‘getting and ‘giving’ where would you mark your lifestyle?
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Download Document: 16th Sunday Yr C
Reflection Question 6: Martha and Mary have Jesus – and his hungry disciples – arrive at their home. Cultural expectations of women would have weighed heavily on both Martha and Mary to serve and provide hospitality and food. Mary however chose to do what was not socially acceptable, and sit at the masters feet, the traditional expression of being a ‘disciple’ – and one normally reserved for ‘males’. Consider what obstacles Mary has overcome to ‘sit and listen’. What obstacles would you have to overcome to sit and listen to Jesus in prayer?
Download: 13th Sunday Yr C
Reflection Question 7: Jesus takes disciples on a special journey toward Jerusalem from this point in the Gospel. There is no turning back. The joy and success of ministry in Galilee changes to resistance by religious people and civil authorities. Jesus urgently teaches his disciples about mission and the Kingdom of God. Imagine a fire is burning and many people’s lives are in danger. Would you let go of your ‘work’ to ‘save’ these people? Such is the call of the Kingdom of God. How will you respond?
Download 11th Sunday Yr C
Reflection Question 8: Simon the Pharisee and the Woman who was regarded as a ‘sinner’ in the town are both struggling with who is ‘acceptable to God’. The Pharisee thought only people keeping all the rules and laws were satisfying the ‘purity’ code of being ‘clean’ and therefore ‘right’ with God. Simon is horrified that Jesus allows a sinful woman to ‘touch’ him and thereby make him ‘unclean’. What is Simon’s deep theological problem?
Download Body and Blood Yr C
Reflection Question 5; Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is the earliest writing we have of the celebration of the Eucharist (15-20 years before the first gospel). Paul shares this ‘tradition’ (which means ‘handing on’) comes from Jesus himself. We are told to ‘Do this’. For Jewish people, to do a ritual liturgical action in ‘remembrance’ was to actually enter and receive the event celebrated. Paul shares the Eucharist proclaims and makes present the cross and victory of Jesus. We receive God’s forgiveness but also intimate communion. What does receiving ‘holy communion’ mean for you?
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Download Ascension Sunday Easter Yr C
Reflection Question 5: The Feast of the Ascension celebrates Jesus’ place now in Heaven, promising the Holy Spirit (1st Reading), acting as the Heavenly Priest (2nd Reading) and sending his disciples to witness to all nations (Gospel). This poses an interesting dilemma: ‘why are you standing there looking at the sky?’ Where is the focus of your energy and attention as a disciple: looking upward to heaven, or looking sideways to mission?
Download 6th Sunday Easter Yr C
Reflection question 3: Circumcision was physical and symbolic – an outward sign of an inner consecration and being a nation ‘set-apart’. It was a physical part of oneself offered to God like a sacrifice. Jewish Christians wanted gentile christians to follow their Mosaic practice (given by Moses) and be circumcised. This question caused the first Council of Jerusalem meeting. How do we know what is important to keep practicing? Are external markings important? Do you show / wear of sign of belonging to God? Why?
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Download 5th Sunday Easter Yr C
Reflection question 3; Paul and Barnabas broke centuries old prejudices of considering God only loved ‘the Jews’. His ‘chosen’. Going to the Gentiles was an enormous change. To put this into context, if a Jew married a Gentile in Jesus’ time the Jewish family would conduct a public funeral to say to everyone that you were now ‘dead’ to the family. Gentiles were considered ‘intrinsically unclean’. Strict Jews believed they were ‘defiled’ by being with Gentiles. Which group of people today are considered ‘outcasts’, ‘sinners’, beyond God’s love? Could you be a missionary to them? What might need to change in you? In the church?
Resource highlight – as well as many resources check out also the google bookshelf created for livingtheword. On this bookshelf are a few well chosen books that can help you investigate and study the scripture readings yourself. Enjoy!