Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
First Sunday of Lent, Feb. 26, 2012 (L1B)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University
Sunday Mass Readings
Podcast of the Readings
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios
New American Bible
Prayer of the Hours
BQ: "Why do Catholics baptize their children as babies?"
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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
Genesis, Chapter 9, Verses 8-15
1. God made a covenant with us, and included every living thing. Does
this reconfigure your attitude toward creation? How? Why do you think
God chose a rainbow to be a sign of this covenant?
2. Explain how the Genesis story of Noah and the flood is a foreshadowing of Christian baptism.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 25: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
1. Our Psalm speaks of being taught by the Lord ("teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me; he teaches the humble his way.")
Are you a good student of the Lord? Tell about what you have learned or
are learning from the Lord.
2. According to our psalmist, the Lord "shows sinners the way." As we
enter the season of Lent, we could all use some guidance and help as we
strive for repentance and to be bolder in our faith. xplain what you
will do during Lent to become a more obedient Christian and a better
witness for your faith.
Second Reading
1 Peter, Chapter 3, Verses 18-22
1. Is baptism something we undertake, or is it a gift of life that we
simply accept as made possible through the resurrection of Jesus?
2. Baptism is about dying and rising. Do you have any Lenten plans that
might impact your dying to self or figuratively speaking, rising from
the dead?
Gospel
Mark, Chapter 1, Verses 12-15
1. “He was among the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.”
What are the “wild beasts” in your life? Who are the angels who minister
to you? Where do you yourself minister?
2. The Spirit drove Jesus into the desert to prepare for his public
ministry. How do you prepare for important events? Do you let the Spirit
“drive” you? What is the food that sustains you? How does fasting or
emptying yourself in some way help sharpen your spiritual appetites?
Sunday Bible Study Group
Please comment on the Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.
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The Psalm is a prayer for forgiveness and guidance,
ReplyDeletea good way to begin the season of Lent.
The same covenant the Lord made with Noah (1st reading)
gives comfort to David, who calls out, “Remember your
compassion and love, O Lord, for they are ages old ...
Good and upright is the Lord, who shows sinners the way.”
Later in the psalm David begs the Lord, “Have pity on me …
put an end to my affliction and suffering, take away all my sins.”
Who else could take away our sins but God’s son,
the righteous one who suffered for us, the unrighteous ones,
as Peter reminds us in the 2nd reading.
Peter says Baptism doesn’t remove the dirt from our bodies;
it doesn’t remove our sinful nature.
But it does allow us to receive the holy Spirit within us,
because without the Spirit,
we are powerless against the Devil.
We are blessed to have a God
who does not disregard us.
On the contrary, he is a caring, compassionate God,
willing to humble himself to share in our humanity,
so that we might come to share in his divinity.
Who else would have such regard for sinners,
for believers who disobey him?
It is He who encourages us when our tongues confess –
“The Lord guides the humble rightly,
and teaches the humble the way.”
Our Lord Jesus tells us what we are to do
as we prepare for the most important season of the year:
“Repent and believe in the Gospel.”
Our response is – David said it years before --
“You are God my Savior.”
Amen