Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Second Sunday of Lent, Mar. 4, 2012 (L2B)
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: Do you believe in the True Prescence of Jesus 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
Reading I: Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
1. In Genesis 15:5 God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as
numerous as the stars. It is to this promise that Abraham clings as he
raises the knife to kill his son. Where do you fall on the continuum,
with one being low and ten high, when blind trust is required of you?
2.
Is Abraham willing to offer the one he most loves because God asked it?
Is God the Father willing to let the one he most loves die in order to
sacrifice for humankind? In the end is Isaac willing to be sacrificed?
Is Jesus willing to give his life (in union with the Father’s
willingness to give everything, even his son) to show how much God loves
humankind?
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 116: 10, 15, 16-17, 18-19
. Our psalmist speaks of the power of his faith, even in the darkest of
times, "I believed, even when I said, 'I am greatly afflicted.'" Give
an example of how your faith has strengthened you in difficult times.
2.
The Psalm says, 'O Lord, I am your servant ... you have loosed my
bonds.' Explain how it is that, having been freed from your chains,
you wish to serve the Lord and become yoked to Him.
Second Reading
Reading II: Romans 8:31b-34
1. The Old Testament describes “Emmanuel,” as God with us. This
reading says God is not only with us, but “for us. Christ … indeed
intercedes for us.” Explain how this statement could be a real
anti-depressant?
2. How does being “for” someone and intervening for him or her relate to “love your neighbor?”
Gospel
Gospel: Mark 9:2-10
1.
It took a blinding light for Peter, James and John to begin to see or
understand who Jesus was. Think of some times that you have seen the
divine in the ordinary? Share your experiences with others. Think of
some areas in your country, Church or life that need to be reconfigured
before you would be able to see much of the divine in them. Explain.
2. Why do you think Elijah and Moses were part of this scene?
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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This Psalm is one Abraham might have recited
ReplyDeletewhen he was called on to sacrifice his son Isaac.
“I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving …
I will pay my vows to the Lord.”
Who else could have kept the faith at a time like that?
Yet Abraham’s devotion to the Lord did not waver.
We may not be called upon to offer up so heavy a sacrifice,
but we are commanded to listen to God’s son,
and to imitate him.
Abraham may have used
words like those of our psalmist,
“I believed even when I said, ‘I am greatly afflicted.”
God relented and provided a substitute for Isaac,
“Too costly in the eyes of the Lord is the death of the faithful.”
But as for his own Son, God did not spare him,
as St. Paul reminds us in our 2nd reading.
And for whom did God sacrifice his son Jesus?
It was for us that God handed over his beloved Son.
Jesus’ death on the cross has given us life –
As people of faith we are chosen by God for life.
We pray that we are not led to the test as Abraham was,
but we might at least, as the Psalm says,
“Pay our vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.”
The psalmist says,
“O Lord, I am your servant … you have loosed my bonds.”
We too are made free by becoming the Lord's servant.
That is how it is when we follow his commandments
and do his will.
It is not something that binds us.
Rather, it is something that sets us free.
We take delight in serving the Lord.
Amen