Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Second Sunday of Lent, Mar. 16, 2014 (2LentA)
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
BQ: Do you believe Jesus is Truly Present at Communion?
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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Book of Genesis, Chapter 12, Verses 1-4a
1. God asked Abraham to leave his ties to his family, his society and his home. What was Abraham’s response? Compare it with the Passion. Does Abraham’s experience relate to your Lenten experience in any way? How?
2. Read the blessing God pronounces over Abraham. Who is a “blessing” for you? For whom are you a “blessing”?
Responsorial Psalms
Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-20, 22
1. The Psalm says 'our soul waits for the Lord.' In what way have you experienced a longing for the Lord, and how have you received Him.
2. The Psalm says we are delivered from death by the grace of God, who is our help and our shield. How have you felt shielded from the evil one by the Lord's grace?
Second Reading
Second Letter of St. Paul to Timothy, Chapter 1, Verses 8b-10
1. Do you think you can live the Gospel without bearing some hardships? Think of some people who suffer hardship on a regular basis because of the way they live the Gospel. How could you use them for role models in some way during Lent?
2. Here are three interpretations. Please discuss and decide: (1) God saves us according to our good works. (2) Good works are our response to God’s love. (3) Our good works have no bearing on whether God saves us.
Gospel
According to Matthew, Chapter 17, Verses 1-9
1. Which apostles witnessed the agony in the garden (Mt 26:37)? Are they the same ones that we see witnessing the transfiguration? What is the connection? Would a transfiguration make people better witnesses of the agony? What would it have done for you?
2. Is there a significance to the “cloud?” What is it? Was there another time Jesus had heard a voice saying, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”? Do you see anything in the world and your own life that makes you think God well pleased?
Online Sunday Bible Study Group
Please comment on the above Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing. ---
“Our soul waits for the Lord,
ReplyDeletewho is our help and shield.” (Verse 20)
It is said that even people who have no faith
have a longing in their hearts for God.
There is something missing in their lives.
For us who are believers,
we are dependent on the Lord –
we openly seek his help and his protection.
He is our shield in the spiritual battle
that we all have to fight.
If we trust in the Lord, his eyes will be upon us
("the eyes of the Lord
are upon those who fear him,")(Verse 18),
We can expect to receive his grace,
and through his grace,
we are delivered from death,
kept alive in times of spiritual famine. (Verse 19)
And for this, we praise the Lord.
As the psalmist says,
we know he will fill the earth with kindness (Verse 5),
and that his kindness will be upon us.
Amen