"But I tell you, if you do not repent."

The gospel passage this Sunday refers to two recent tragedies that were on people's minds. Pilate had ordered the massacre of some Galileans who had come to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices in the temple. And eighteen people had been killed when a tower at Siloam fell on them. Jesus that the victims of these tragedies were no greater sinners than other people were.


Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Third Sunday in Lent, Mar. 3, 2013 (3LentC)
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: Can a mass murderer have a Catholic funeral?

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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
Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15

1. Did God call Moses for Moses’ sake or for the sake of the Israelite people? Does God call each of us for the same reason(s)? Does “I Am Who Am” intervene in our history as he did in the Israelites’? Name some incidents that you think are or were God’s interventions.

2. Is God calling all of us all the time, either to conversion or to action? God warned Moses about Moses’s standing on holy ground. What made it holy? What is holy ground for you?

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11

1. Our psalmist assures us that God in His compassion will redeem our life from the 'pit.' But we must do our part and show repentance. Describe how during Lent you are becoming kinder and more merciful to your family and your neighbors.


2. The Psalm inspires us to bless the Lord and 'forget not all His benefits.' Speak of your gratitude for the gifts you have received from God.

Second Reading
1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12

1. Do one have to work at keeping a friendship alive and healthy? Does your answer have any implications about your relationship with God?

2. Are there opportunities for deeper conversion (turning more toward God), and productivity, that you could take advantage of? Are there some for your parish too?

Gospel
Luke 13:1-9
1. In the book Diary of a Country Priest, George Bernanos wrote, “Grace is everywhere.” What does that statement mean to you? Do you always cooperate with such grace? Could you cooperate to a greater degree? How?

2. Do you give people another chance after they make a mistake? Does God use people as “gardeners” to help cultivate and fertilize others with grace? Does God use you in this way? Has God used others to help you bear fruit?

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.

"This is my chosen Son; listen to him."

The gospel reading last Sunday brought us to a ‘desert’ experience. This Second Sunday in Lent, Feb. 24, 2013, Luke brings us to a ‘mountain’ experience: the transfiguration of the Lord (Luke 9:28-36). Here, our Lord gives us another lesson in faith: We must keep faith in him, because he is God’s chosen son, in whom God’s redemptive plan is fulfilled.


Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Second Sunday in Lent, Feb. 24, 2013 (2LentC)
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: How Catholic are you? Take the Quiz

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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 15:5-12, 17-18

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 1 being low and 10 high, when blind trust is required of you?

2. Is Abraham willing to offer the one he loves most because God asked it? Is God the Father willing to let the one he loves most die to show how far he will go 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 27: 1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14

1. Our psalmist seeks God's face. Does your heart seek a right relationship with the Lord? Speak of how you are drawn to the Lord and how He makes himself accessible to you.

2. The season of Lent can be a time of transformation for us. But we cannot change our hearts by ourselves; we all need the Lord's help, as does our psalmist, 'You are my helper; cast me not off.' Tell of how you are becoming a better person with the help of the Lord.

Second Reading
Philippians 3:17–4:1 or 3:20–4:1

1. The Old Testament describes “Emanuel” 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-depression agent.

2. How does being “for” someone and interceding for him/her relate to “love your neighbor?”

Gospel
Luke 9:28b-36

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 share your thoughts on these Sunday Readings. And please do use these questions for your own Bible study sessions with family and friends.
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"You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test."

This Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013, is the First Sunday of Lent. And our Gospel shows Jesus fasting in the desert where He is tempted by the devil. Satan, scripture tells us, is the prince of jealousy, bitterness, paranoia, obsession, and lies. Few things in life torment us and beat us up as badly as these. They lurk in every dark corner, come out from under our beds at night, generally threaten us, darken our days, dampen our joys, and make us anxious as to what might lie around the corner. We just word things differently.


Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
First Sunday in Lent, Feb. 17, 2013 (1LentC)
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: What is the Pope's influence in your life?

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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
Deuteronomy 26:4-10

1. The First Reading contains the faith story of a people. Is there a way your own faith story is like this one? Discuss.

2. What good things came out of the Israelites’ desert sojourn? Was there any other way for them to get to the Promised Land? Metaphorically speaking, is the desert a place to fear or do you find its mysteries attractive?

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 91: 1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15

1. Our psalmist speaks about God's angels guarding us in all our ways. Give an example of how you have been borne up upon the hands of angels and given power physically or spiritually to trample down the devil and his minions.

2. In the Psalm God says that if we cling to Him, He will deliver us and set us on high. Tell of what it means to you to 'cling' to the Lord, and having done so, how have you been made free from evil that threatens you.

Second Reading
Romans 10:8-13

1. How do you proclaim that Jesus is Lord in all the small places where you live your daily life? (in the parish, at work, with family or friends) Do your proclamations require words?

2. Is most of what you do for someone colored by the love you have for that person? The Word who is “near you, in your mouth and in your heart” is Christ. What are the implications?

GospelLuke 4:1-13

1. Why do you think Jesus begins his ministry with his “retreat to the desert”? He experienced the sufferings brought about by our sins. Did he experience our temptations too? Is there any part of them that he does not understand?

2. When an athlete starts to get flabby he/she exercises to get back in shape. Is there an analogy here for your spiritual life? How do you exercise to get into shape spiritually? What would a “flabby” spiritual life look like? How does yours look now?

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.
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"Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."

The Gospel for Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, contains a surprise development. This Fifth Sunday will find three of the greatest witnesses in the Bible—Isaiah, Paul and Peter—expressing their own worthlessness.

Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Feb. 10, 2013 (5C)
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: Can we who are sinful be part of Jesus’ mission?

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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 6:1-2a, 3-8

1. What do Isaiah, Paul and Peter have in common in these readings?

2. God had some big tasks in mind for Isaiah, Paul and Peter. Could God just as well call us to do small things first, to take baby steps till we get used to saying yes?

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 138: 1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 7-8

1. Our psalmist affirms, 'When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me.' Speak of your own experience when you were in need of the Lord's help to build up your spiritual vigor.

2. David pleas with God, 'forsake not the work of your hands.' As a child of God, tell of how you can expect the Lord to love you forever unconditionally.

Second Reading
Corinthians 15:1-11 or 15:3-8, 11

1. Paul persecuted the Church, but because of grace he became a superb minister. Was he given the grace solely for his own benefit? Explain.

2. "For I am ... not fit to be called an apostle …" Do you think fit or worthy is the measure that God uses to call a person? Discuss the inconsistency between what Paul was and what he was asked to do? Is anyone "fit" or worthy?

Gospel
Luke 5:1-11

Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.

1. List some of the dangers of "deep water." What is not there for your security? What is there to threaten you? So why would you go there? What virtue do you need?

2. Where did Peter have to go in the lake before he could catch the fish? Where did he have to go in his personal life before he could "catch" people for God? Was everything up to him or did Peter receive extraordinary help? When are you yourself on the shore and when are you in the deep?

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.
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