In the words of Psalm 118: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad!" Good News, indeed… The Word to remember is "Easter!"
Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Easter Sunday, Apr. 20 2014 (EasterA)
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: Who can receive 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
The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 10, Verses 34a, 37-43
1. What is the significance of the word “witness,” in the sentence, “We are witnesses to all that he did”? Peter uses it both as a noun (meaning “observer”) and a verb (meaning “corroborate,” “testify”).
2. What are some of the ways you can bear witness in your life? Should you witness with more than words?
Responsorial Psalms
Psalm 118: 1-2, 16-17, 22-23
1. The Psalm says, "His mercy endures forever." Having risen with the Lord, in what way do we depend on His mercy to share life with Him in His heavenly kingdom?
2. The psalmist says, "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord." Having been saved from death by our risen Lord, what is expected of us, and what are we called to proclaim?
Second Reading
Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians, Chapter 3, Verses 1-4
1. “Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above.” Paul tells us what is “above” later in chapter 3 of Colossians. He says that we should put on heartfelt compassion. What does compassion look like in your immediate world and in the larger one?
2. One of Paul’s last directives is to let the peace of Christ control your hearts. How do you do that when you’re feeling confused, or paralyzed with fear, or depressed? Where do you find help?
Gospel
According to John, Chapter 20, Verses 1-9
or Matthew, Chapter 28, Verses 1-10
1. The same women who were with Jesus when he died came to anoint his body in the morning. Were they deterred from their task by an immovable stone or by fear? Compare and contrast their behavior with the actions of Jesus’ other disciples. Looking at all the disciples during Jesus’ last hours, whose behavior would you like to imitate?
2. What is it that allowed John to “see and believe,” to have this kind of clarity? Does love give you knowledge about a person, or insights into their behavior? In John, Jesus says “Whoever loves me….I will love him (her) and reveal myself to him (her)” (Ch 14, Vs. 21). Is there a connection between Jesus’ statement and John’s “seeing and believing”?
Online Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share your reflections on the above Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.
“The joyful shout of deliverance
ReplyDeleteis heard in the tents of the victors;
The Lord’s right hand strikes with power.”
The psalm celebrates
a great victory over death.
This victory is delivered
by the Lord’s right hand,
a clear advance notice
of the power of the Son of God.
“I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the Lord.”
This is Jesus speaking about his own resurrection
and his food – which is to do the work of the Father.
Our risen Savior has defeated death
and the grasp that sin has on us.
And having been saved,
what is our commission?
Luke tells us in the 1st reading
we are to preach to the people
and testify that Jesus
is the anointed one.
Christ has become our cornerstone.
“The stone the builders rejected has become the corner stone.”
The mystery is that Christ has become a source of strength for us,
despite his apparent weakness that day on the cross,
when he died a shameful death.
Only the Lord could have done this remarkable thing:
“This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad.”
Amen