Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Second Sunday of Easter, Apr. 15, 2012 (Easter2B)
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: What is Faith?
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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
Acts 4:32-35
1.
The treatment of possessions by the community in this reading is the
early Church’s example of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. How
does your treatment of possessions compare with theirs?
2. Who
are the needy in your immediate life? Can you take care of at least some
of their needs? What, if anything, can you do about the needs of people
in your extended world? If you joined forces with another person or
group could you do something to alleviate needs of these people?
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118: 2-4, 13-15, 22-24
1. Our Response is, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice
and be glad." On this Easter Sunday, explain what is the basis of your
joy and gladness and how your life is affected by our exalted Savior.
2. Our Lord, rejected by the 'builders' of his time, has become the
'cornerstone' of our lives. What does it mean to you to build your
faith on the resurrection of Jesus?
Second Reading
John 5:1-6
1. Are you a Christian because of what you have done or what Christ
has done? What is more important, belief in Jesus or performance of good
deeds?
2. If you have faith that “Jesus is the Christ and is begotten by God,” what can you conquer?
Gospel
John 20:19-31
1.
The disciples were afraid after Jesus’ death and they locked the doors.
Are there times in your life when you have wanted to lock the doors of
your life? What calmed the disciples’ fears? What calms yours?
2.
What is the significance of Jesus’ breathe when he gave the disciples
the Holy Spirit? Do you receive the same Holy Spirit in Baptism and
Confirmation? Does the Holy Spirit act differently in you than in them?
Jesus empowered his disciples with his Spirit so they could pass the
gift of peace on to others. Is peace related to forgiveness of sins?
How?
Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share your comments on the Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.
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Once again we visit this powerful psalm
ReplyDeleteof praise and thanksgiving.
This time the verses stress
the enduring love that God has for us –
so much so that despite the part
we played in crucifying his Son,
God went ahead and carried out his plan to save us.
Jesus’ risen presence among us
is living proof of God’s enduring love.
“God’s love endures forever.”
We may be 'hard pressed and falling,'
but the Lord comes to our help.
As the psalmist says, the Lord is our strength.
He is present to us, just as He was in
those early days of the church
described in our 1st reading and in the Gospel.
We may not have the awesome experience
of physically putting our hand in the Lord’s side
and our fingers into the nail marks on his hand,
but He is with us.
“The Lord comes to us as Savior.”
We are victorious over death.
The Lord’s deliverance is cause for joy.
Just when we were down, the Lord raises us up.
“I was hard pressed and falling …
but the Lord has been my Savior.”
“The joyful shout of victory is heard ….”
We are on firm ground after all –
Christ has become our cornerstone,
as our psalmist reminds us.
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:
“By the Lord has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.”
This is cause for rejoicing --
“This is the day the Lord has made.”
Along with the disciples and the early church,
“Let us be glad and rejoice in it.”
Amen