Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sep. 30, 2012 (26B)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University
Sunday Readings
Podcast of the Readings
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios
New American Bible
Prayer of the Hours
BQ: Does the Church allow abortion if the mother's life is at risk?
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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
Numbers 11:25-29
1. Joshua wanted Moses to stop Eldad and Medad’s prophesying because they didn’t follow the rules. Can you relate to this kind of problem? What was Moses’ response? Is there any similarity to Jesus’ response in the Gospel?
2. Does the Spirit work in many religions? Ever? Always? What might the Spirit be doing religions other than your own? Do you look for gifts in other people to see what actions God might be taking through them?
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 19: 8, 10, 12-13, 14
1. Our Psalm Response this Sunday is "The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart." Do you believe that the Lord's commandments can be a source of joy, instead of a set of rules and restrictions? Explain.
2. Our psalmist says that the 'decree of the Lord gives wisdom to the simple.' Describe how God's Law inspires you to celebrate God's perfection and helps you to imitate the divine life.
Second Reading
James 5:1-6
1. Wages withheld from the harvesters cry aloud, James says. How does his message apply today?
2. The rich got their wealth at the expense of the poor. Explain this in terms of the harvesters in the reading. How does humane treatment relate to a living wage? To profound respect?
Gospel
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
1. John in the Gospel and Joshua in the First Reading had the same problem: unauthorized people were prophesizing. What was Jesus’ response to the idea that no one outside the inner circle was to minister in his name? Can anyone lay exclusive claim to the reign of God as Jesus revealed it?
2. Did Jesus mean the words “cutting off of hands” literally? If not, how do you interpret his message?
Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share your thoughts online on the Sunday Readings. And please do use these questions for your own Bible study sessions with family and friends.
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“The law of the Lord is perfect,
ReplyDeleterefreshing the soul.”
This Psalm celebrates the Law
of the Lord, first given to Moses
on Mt. Sinai. But it also tells us
what God’s Law reveals about
our Creator, and about the joy
that is stirred up in our hearts
when we follow the Lord’s commands.
If we are to imitate the divine life,
everything we need to know is found
in God’s Law. Our psalmist David
shows us that the Law of Moses is an
instruction manual for life. We learn
that obeying the Law does not prevent
us from being happy or limit us in
a negative way. Instead, obeying the
Law brings much reward.
We are kept from willful sins
by the Law. Obey the Law and
we will not be controlled by sin
and instead will be able to walk
as God fearing people. We may think
of statutes as something intended to
control us or restrict us. But as our
psalmist explains, the Law of the Lord
does the opposite – it is in fact a source
of joy, something to be desired,
because the Law gives us wisdom and
provides us with something we can trust.
“His ordinances are true, all of them just.”
Far more than a set of rules that we
cannot hope to follow, God’s commandments
refresh our souls; they give ‘wisdom to
the simple;’ they are more 'desirable than
gold, sweeter also than honey.'
It is through the inspired Word of God
that we know His commandments
and through this Psalm that we know
His Law is a source of refreshment,
a source of joy; His statutes do not
bind us, they set us free.
The reading of the Law should not
make us sad, but be a source of rejoicing.
Give us ears to hear!
Amen