Sunday Reading Reflections
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 25, 2009 (29B)
SUNDAY READINGS
HOMILIES FOR SUNDAY
Burning Question: Why do we pray for the dead?
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First Reading
Book of Revelation, Chapter 7, Verses 2-4, 9-14
1. Can you think of some people who have suffered, died, and who might now stand before the Lamb? Has suffering and distress entered into their reward? Do you encounter resistance to the values of Christianity in your life?
2. Do you find opposition or indifference to Catholic values of social justice. What do you do, especially when people are suffering because of this unconcern? What would you like to do?
Second Reading
First Letter of John, Chapter 3, Verses 1-3
1. You are a child of God. What gifts have you received as a result? What gifts have you received from God today?
2. God is always present, hovering over us like a mother hen. Why does he not just jump right in and save us from all the messes we get into?
Gospel
According to Matthew, Chapter 5, Verses 1-12a
1. Moses received the ten commandments on the mountain. Compare and contrast this with Jesus giving the beatitudes in his sermon on the mount.
2. Is Jesus also talking about his own life when he states the beatitudes? Do you think this is a lesson or an invitation? Why?
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Wednesday
October 25, 2009, 30th Sunday Cycle B - "Your faith has saved you"
Sunday Reading Reflections
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 25, 2009 (29B)
SUNDAY READINGS
HOMILIES FOR SUNDAY
BURNING QUESTION: What is Faith?
Click COMMENTS below to leave your reflections.
First Reading
Book of the prophet Jeremiah, Chapter 31, Verses 7-9
1. This reading is about God’s promise to deliver his people. They are a remnant, blind and lame, with child or not, and they departed in tears. What does your parish or office or family do to help God’s promise come true? What do you do?
2. Is there anyone in your life who just needs the road “leveled out” a little? If you help, how is this good for both of you? Does self-giving help bring about the reign of God?
Second Reading
Letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 5, Verses 1-6
1. “He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness.” How would “experiencing weakness” help a person minister to others? Do you think Jesus’ human experience and suffering draws people to him?
2. Baptism makes all of us ministers in the reign of God. Think about Moses, Peter, Paul, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Blessed Fr. Damien and others. Discuss how weaknesses can help make good ministers.
Gospel
According to Mark, Chapter 10, Verses 46-52
1. Bartimaeus was kept calling out to Jesus, in spite of the fact that the crowd was trying to shut him up. What do you do when others tell you to keep quiet? In the history of the Church can you think of great scientists and theologians who were silenced?
2. “Master, I want to see.” What is it that you want to “see” that will change your life as radically as Bartimaeus changed his? What was the miracle here, the faith of Bartimaeus or the healing of physical blindness?
Share Your Reflections
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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 25, 2009 (29B)
SUNDAY READINGS
HOMILIES FOR SUNDAY
BURNING QUESTION: What is Faith?
Click COMMENTS below to leave your reflections.
First Reading
Book of the prophet Jeremiah, Chapter 31, Verses 7-9
1. This reading is about God’s promise to deliver his people. They are a remnant, blind and lame, with child or not, and they departed in tears. What does your parish or office or family do to help God’s promise come true? What do you do?
2. Is there anyone in your life who just needs the road “leveled out” a little? If you help, how is this good for both of you? Does self-giving help bring about the reign of God?
Second Reading
Letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 5, Verses 1-6
1. “He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness.” How would “experiencing weakness” help a person minister to others? Do you think Jesus’ human experience and suffering draws people to him?
2. Baptism makes all of us ministers in the reign of God. Think about Moses, Peter, Paul, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Blessed Fr. Damien and others. Discuss how weaknesses can help make good ministers.
Gospel
According to Mark, Chapter 10, Verses 46-52
1. Bartimaeus was kept calling out to Jesus, in spite of the fact that the crowd was trying to shut him up. What do you do when others tell you to keep quiet? In the history of the Church can you think of great scientists and theologians who were silenced?
2. “Master, I want to see.” What is it that you want to “see” that will change your life as radically as Bartimaeus changed his? What was the miracle here, the faith of Bartimaeus or the healing of physical blindness?
Share Your Reflections
Click COMMENTS below and leave your comments and reflections.
Tuesday
October 18, 2009, 29th Sunday Cycle B - "Whoever wishes to be first among you"
Sunday Reading Reflections
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 11, 2009 (28B)
SUNDAY READINGS
HOMILIES FOR SUNDAY
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First Reading
Book of the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 53, Verses 10-11
1. Do you suffer with the loved one who is suffering, and would you take the person’s place if you could? Does God act in this manner regarding the suffering of human beings?
2. “Do this in memory of me.” Is this an invitation to join Jesus’ suffering and to participate in his redemption of the world? Can God use your actions or your suffering to accomplish his work in the world today?
Second Reading
Letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 4, Verses 14-16
1. Christ is able to “sympathize with our weaknesses,” the reading says. Does he completely understand your situation no matter how complicated it is? Are you able to understand people’s weaknesses?
2. Jesus was tested in every way we are. Do you ever remember this when you are being tested?
Gospel
According to Mark, Chapter 10, Verses 35-45
1. What place do status, rank and privilege have in Christian ministry? Why does Jesus attribute so much importance to the emptying of oneself?
2. Jesus told the disciples that the way to rank first is by serving others. What does unselfish service look like in your parish, work, or home? On a larger scale how could it change the world?
Share Your Reflections
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Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 11, 2009 (28B)
SUNDAY READINGS
HOMILIES FOR SUNDAY
Click COMMENTS below to leave your reflections.
First Reading
Book of the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 53, Verses 10-11
1. Do you suffer with the loved one who is suffering, and would you take the person’s place if you could? Does God act in this manner regarding the suffering of human beings?
2. “Do this in memory of me.” Is this an invitation to join Jesus’ suffering and to participate in his redemption of the world? Can God use your actions or your suffering to accomplish his work in the world today?
Second Reading
Letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 4, Verses 14-16
1. Christ is able to “sympathize with our weaknesses,” the reading says. Does he completely understand your situation no matter how complicated it is? Are you able to understand people’s weaknesses?
2. Jesus was tested in every way we are. Do you ever remember this when you are being tested?
Gospel
According to Mark, Chapter 10, Verses 35-45
1. What place do status, rank and privilege have in Christian ministry? Why does Jesus attribute so much importance to the emptying of oneself?
2. Jesus told the disciples that the way to rank first is by serving others. What does unselfish service look like in your parish, work, or home? On a larger scale how could it change the world?
Share Your Reflections
Click COMMENTS below and leave your comments and reflections.
Thursday
October 11, 2009, 28th Sunday Cycle B - "Go, sell what you have"
Sunday Reading Reflections
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 11, 2009 (28B)
SUNDAY READINGS
HOMILIES FOR SUNDAY
Click COMMENTS below to leave your reflections.
First Reading
Book of Wisdom, Chapter 7, Verses 7-11
1. Consider power, money, health, reputation, beauty. Where does wisdom fall in your hierarchy of values? If you rank wisdom first does it stay there? Which of the other values overpowers wisdom most often in your life? 2.
A law student decides to work for social justice instead of a wealthy law firm. How do “all good things come together” for him? How are “countless riches” given to him?
Second Reading
Letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 4, Verses 12-13
1. The Word “discerns reflections and thoughts of the heart.” How do you feel about the Word knowing you better than you know yourself? Do you trust God with such personal things? And would you like to know yourself better?
2. Do motives and attitude color your decision-making? Are your motives and attitudes in good order, or could they use a realignment?
Gospel
According to Mark, Chapter 10, Verses 17-30
1. Think of people you know who give all the time. What are they like? Do they receive the hundredfold Jesus promised to those who give? What happens to you when you give?
2. Are possessions themselves the difficulty, or is clinging to possessions the problem? Can either one be a stumbling block to a poor person as well as to a wealthy person? Discuss whether you think possessions could be a stumbling block to the Church itself.
Share Your Reflections
Click COMMENTS below and leave your comments and reflections.
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 11, 2009 (28B)
SUNDAY READINGS
HOMILIES FOR SUNDAY
Click COMMENTS below to leave your reflections.
First Reading
Book of Wisdom, Chapter 7, Verses 7-11
1. Consider power, money, health, reputation, beauty. Where does wisdom fall in your hierarchy of values? If you rank wisdom first does it stay there? Which of the other values overpowers wisdom most often in your life? 2.
A law student decides to work for social justice instead of a wealthy law firm. How do “all good things come together” for him? How are “countless riches” given to him?
Second Reading
Letter to the Hebrews, Chapter 4, Verses 12-13
1. The Word “discerns reflections and thoughts of the heart.” How do you feel about the Word knowing you better than you know yourself? Do you trust God with such personal things? And would you like to know yourself better?
2. Do motives and attitude color your decision-making? Are your motives and attitudes in good order, or could they use a realignment?
Gospel
According to Mark, Chapter 10, Verses 17-30
1. Think of people you know who give all the time. What are they like? Do they receive the hundredfold Jesus promised to those who give? What happens to you when you give?
2. Are possessions themselves the difficulty, or is clinging to possessions the problem? Can either one be a stumbling block to a poor person as well as to a wealthy person? Discuss whether you think possessions could be a stumbling block to the Church itself.
Share Your Reflections
Click COMMENTS below and leave your comments and reflections.
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