This Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013 (32C), Jesus Christ not only reaffirms His teaching on the resurrection of the dead, but He deepens our understanding of the marriage vocation as well.
Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Nov. 10, 2013 (32C)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University
Sunday Mass Readings
Podcast of the Readings
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios
Prayer of the Hours
Burning Question: What is "Real Presence of Christ" Catholics talk about?
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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
-------------------------------------------- First Reading
Second Book of Maccabees, Chapter 7, Verses 1-2, 9-14
1. What are some other burdensome earthly trials besides martyrdom that people might be able to endure because of the hope of the resurrection? What suffering does this hope allow you to endure?
2. Why might you call people like Archbishop Romero and all the martyrs in El Salvador who died to bring social justice to their country, resurrection people?
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15
1. Our psalmist says that his steps have kept to the Lord's paths, his feet have not faltered. Explain how you have 'walked the walk' in the pathways of the Lord.
2. The Psalm speaks of how we shall be content in God's presence. Tell of what it means to you to look forward to the day when you shall behold God's face.
Second Reading
Second Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians,
Chapter 2, Verses 16-17; Chapter 3, Verses 1-5
1. Does Paul pray that his and his friends’ ministry speed forward or that the Word of the Lord speed forward through their efforts? Discuss. What is the difference?
2. Are you and your ministry saving the world or are you part of God’s plan to save the world? How might God be saving the world through your ministry?
Gospel
According to Luke, Chapter 20, Verses 17-38
1. What means most to you in your life right now? What from this life do you want to take with you to the next?
2. Does this gospel help you when you consider your death and the death of the ones you love? How?
Online Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share in the comments box below your reflections on the above Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.
These are my reflections on this Sunday's
ReplyDeletePsalm (Psalm 17: 1, 5-6, 8, 15):
This Psalm is a prayer of David in time of persecution.
“Hear Lord my plea for justice;
Pay heed to my cry.” (Verse 1)
This prayer would be a good one for us in our struggle against
powers and principalities that threaten us.
The psalmist appeals to God for protection from his enemies –
probably spiritual as well as physical,
(the kind we face in our battles with unclean forces).
And in a similar way St. Paul calls for God’s intervention
within the brethren at Thessalonica --
“That we may be delivered from perverse and wicked people.” (2nd reading)
The Psalm says, “My steps have kept to your paths; my feet have not faltered.”(Verse 5)
What could better describe the inspiring courage shown by those seven young men (1st reading) who chose to die at the hands of human beings, instead of breaking God’s law.
The Psalm concludes, “When I awake let me be filled with your presence.”(Verse 15)
This may well refer to a new awakening after death –we can read it as
a sharing in the resurrection of Christ,
which is what it’s all about for each of us,
and it’s also what the Gospel teaches us this week.
The psalmist says it beautifully,
“Keep me as the apple of your eye;
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.” (Verse 8)
What more could we ask for, from our Creator, our Protector?
Amen
“Hear, O Lord a just suit;
ReplyDeleteattend to my outcry.”
We all may have been unjustly attacked
at one time or another, as our psalmist
David was, and as were the seven brothers
in Maccabees. When that happens, where
do we hide? Where do we take refuge?
Who else but the Lord stands ready to
console us, protect us “in the shadow of
His wings?” Our psalmist reminds us
that without God we can do nothing,
and it is He who empowers us to prevail.
And so we trust God, as David does;
we call upon Him, and we cling to Him.
We are not hesitant to call upon His name,
“I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my word.”
For His part, God keeps us as the “apple of
His eye.” He attends to our outcry;
He hearkens to our prayers, so long as
our lips are without deceit.
And when we face death, whose face do we
want to see? It is the Lord's -- “Let me see
your face; when I awake, let me be filled
with your presence.” Who else has promised
us eternal life?
We must not be afraid to trust God for the
outcome. All we have to do is to keep to His
paths, as our psalmist says. Our feet do not falter.
As David did, we call upon the Lord.
As was true for David, we shall be content in
His presence.
Amen