Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jan. 20, 2013 (2C)
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: Is Jesus and God the same?
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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
Isaiah 62:1-5
1. Why does Isaiah use intimate marital imagery when explaining the relationship between God and the people? Does love between human beings help you understand how much God loves people?
2. The Lord gives new names to Israel in this First Reading (“a glorious crown in the Lord’s hand,” “A Royal Diadem [crown],” “My Delight,” and “Espoused”). How would you interpret these loving names in light of the New Testament?
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 96: 1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10
1. Our psalmist encourages us to 'Sing to the Lord a new song." What is it about your faith that makes you want to sing praise to the Lord?
2. The Psalm urges us to 'Proclaim His marvelous deeds to all the nations.' How will you go about proclaiming the Gospel to those around you in your family and your community?
Second Reading
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
1. Why do you think people are given talents like Van Gogh’s and Bach’s or spiritual gifts like the ones mentioned in the reading? Should everyone have the same talents? Are you using the talents God gave you?
2. Paul mentions the gifts of faith, healing, mighty deeds, prophecy, discernment of spirits, varieties of tongues and interpretations of tongues. Are such gifts needed in your community? Where do they come from?
Gospel
John 2:1-11
1. Surprisingly, when his own mother said, “They have no wine.” Jesus replied, “How does your concern affect me?” Wasn’t this a rude answer? Why did he say it? In spite of his response, Mary trusted that he would somehow solve the problem. If this trust rates a 10, where would you put your trust when you go to God with your concerns?
2. This Sunday, together with the previous two (i.e., Epiphany, the Lord’s Baptism, and now the miracle at Cana), prepare for Jesus’ public ministry (he denies that it has begun yet in today’s reading). Compare and contrast these three events.
Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share your thoughts on these Sunday Readings. And please do use these questions for your own Bible study sessions with family and friends.
“Give to the Lord the glory due his name!”
ReplyDeleteThis psalm is a song of Israel,
the chosen people, brought back
from exile. Their joy and praise
is understandable; in our 1st reading
(Isaiah) God calls them “His Delight,
His Espoused.” No wonder they
want to “sing to the Lord a new song,”
and tell of God’s glory and His
marvelous deeds.
We are all summoned to adoration
of our sovereign God. We are called
to give Him “glory and might, as our
psalmist says. And we are called
to bring gifts as we enter His courts.
But no matter how precious our own
offerings may be, they are no match
for the gifts of the Spirit that each
of us receives, and which St. Paul speaks
about in our 2nd reading. Each of us
receives these spiritual gifts individually,
and they are given through the Spirit to us
for 'some benefit.'
In today's Gospel our Lord Jesus uses
His marvelous gifts to turn water into wine
at the wedding in Cana and so reveals
His glory. Even today the Lord provides
real food and real drink for us, in the
Eucharist. What better nourishment
could there be in our lives? As the psalm
says, we are called to be grateful and
“give to the Lord the glory due His name,”
to bow down to the Lord and to tremble
before Him.
Amen