"Do not be unbelieving, but believe."

This Sunday we hear that the apostles, imprisoned and bound by fear, have locked themselves into the upper room, and that "Jesus came and stood before them...Then he breathed on them and said: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive men's sins, they are forgiven them; if you hold them bound, they are held bound.' "

Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Second Sunday of Easter, April 27, 2014 (2EasterA)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University

Sunday Mass Readings  
Podcast of the Readings 
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios 
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 of the Apostles, Chapter 2, Verses 42-47

1. How could the early Christians “sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s needs”? Could you go this far with the “selling and dividing”?

2. Can you describe this early Christian community in a short sentence? Are there other groups that fit this description? How is your faith strengthened by the faith of others? Why did they “eat their meals with exultation”?

Responsorial Psalms
Psalm 118:  2-4, 13-15, 22-24

1.  The Psalm says God's love is everlasting and that His mercy endures forever.   Do you feel that you have received God's mercy even though you may not have been worthy?   What changes in your life have taken place as you have received God's love?

2)  Have you ever felt as though you were 'hard pressed and falling' as the Psalm says?   Can you recall a time in your life when God helped you to regain your strength and courage?   Did you then feel like making a 'joyful shout of victory?'

Second Reading
First Letter of St. Peter, Chapter 1, Verses 3-9


1. “You may have to suffer through various trials.” Are troubles beneficial? Does “letting go” free you in any way? What do you call it when you believe even though you can’t see?

2 Hans Urs von Balthasar says this: “We are not the ones who grasp Christ and anchor ourselves to him, rather, Christ has caught up with us and grasped us.” Which “grasping” makes you feel more secure? How does Balthasar’s sentences apply to this particular reading?

Gospel
According to John, Chapter 20, Verses 19-31

1. No doors can be locked tight enough to keep Christ out. Explain. Do you have “locked doors”? If sin is what separates God from the world and people from one another, what do you do about your own sins? Is peace connected with forgiveness of sins?

2. “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Which do you think is stronger, belief or seeing? Do you need help believing, as Thomas did? What reason does John give us for his telling us this story?

Online Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share your reflections on the above Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.

"They have taken the Lord from the tomb"

In the words of Psalm 118: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad!" Good News, indeed… The Word to remember is "Easter!"

Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Easter Sunday, Apr. 20 2014 (EasterA)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University

Sunday Mass Readings  
Podcast of the Readings 
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios 
Prayer of the Hours
BQ: Who can receive 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
The Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 10, Verses 34a, 37-43

1. What is the significance of the word “witness,” in the sentence, “We are witnesses to all that he did”? Peter uses it both as a noun (meaning “observer”) and a verb (meaning “corroborate,” “testify”).

2. What are some of the ways you can bear witness in your life? Should you witness with more than words?

Responsorial Psalms
Psalm 118: 1-2, 16-17, 22-23

1. The Psalm says, "His mercy endures forever." Having risen with the Lord, in what way do we depend on His mercy to share life with Him in His heavenly kingdom?

2. The psalmist says, "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord." Having been saved from death by our risen Lord, what is expected of us, and what are we called to proclaim?

Second Reading
Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians, Chapter 3, Verses 1-4

1. “Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above.” Paul tells us what is “above” later in chapter 3 of Colossians. He says that we should put on heartfelt compassion. What does compassion look like in your immediate world and in the larger one?

2. One of Paul’s last directives is to let the peace of Christ control your hearts. How do you do that when you’re feeling confused, or paralyzed with fear, or depressed? Where do you find help?

Gospel
According to John, Chapter 20, Verses 1-9
or Matthew, Chapter 28, Verses 1-10

1. The same women who were with Jesus when he died came to anoint his body in the morning. Were they deterred from their task by an immovable stone or by fear? Compare and contrast their behavior with the actions of Jesus’ other disciples. Looking at all the disciples during Jesus’ last hours, whose behavior would you like to imitate?

2. What is it that allowed John to “see and believe,” to have this kind of clarity? Does love give you knowledge about a person, or insights into their behavior? In John, Jesus says “Whoever loves me….I will love him (her) and reveal myself to him (her)” (Ch 14, Vs. 21). Is there a connection between Jesus’ statement and John’s “seeing and believing”?

Online Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share your reflections on the above Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.

"Hosanna to the Son of David"

It is a special liturgy, this Sunday, known as “Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.” If you were tempted to think of it as just another Mass but with a few additions, prepare to drop that assumption. Passion Sunday is a very deep vision of the heart and soul of Christianity.

Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Fifth Sunday of Lent, Apr. 13, 2011 (Palm)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University

Sunday Mass Readings  
Podcast of the Readings 
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios 
Prayer of the Hours
BQ: What Sacraments were instituted by Jesus on Holy Thursday?"

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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
Book of Isaiah, Chapter 50, Verses 4-7

1. If you speak out in God’s behalf against injustice, according to this reading what can you expect your life to be like? Who, other than Jesus might the speaker be in this reading? Explain.

2. “Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear.” What do you think you hear? Do you stand up for justice even if it involves some discomfort for you? Will you allow God to use you in some small way to remedy someone’s suffering? Explain. Is the presence of God with you when you speak for God?

Responsorial Psalms
Psalm 22: 8-9, 17-20, 23-24

1.  This Sunday's Psalm response are the words spoken by Christ as he was dying on the cross for us, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" Do you sometimes feel abandoned by the Lord? Is it He who abandons us, or it the other way around?

2.  In what way does this Psalm remind you of the crucifixion? Do you see a way out of the darkness of these words, and do you believe that the suffering described can be a source of strength in times of distress, knowing that there is a victory ahead?

Second Reading
Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, Chapter 2, Verses 6-11

1. Why would God be humble and empty? What good are those qualities? What is the relationship between them and Agape, love that is selfless and free from self-concern and preoccupation?

2. Is your life described in question 1 above or is it characterized sometimes by selfishness? Which kind of life includes conversion, vulnerability and search for justice? Which includes suffering? Which redeems the world? Is there any middle ground between Agape and selfishness?

Gospel
According to Matthew
Chapter 26, Verses 14-75; Chapter 27, Verses 1-66

1. Who stayed and who didn’t stay with Jesus through his passion? Which group would you have been with? How do you react to fear? What do you think helped the people who stayed with Jesus overcome fear?

2. Jesus felt abandoned by the one he loved most. Even though he couldn’t know it, do you think the Father and the Spirit were there with Jesus on the cross? What does his choosing to experience all of humanity’s worst suffering tell us? What does it say to you?

Online Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share your reflections on the above Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.

"I am the resurrection and the life"

The Fifth Sunday of Lent's Gospel story of the raising of Lazarus narrative in John's Gospel (11:1-44) is the climax of the signs of Jesus. The story is situated shortly before Jesus is captured, tried and crucified. It is the event that most directly results in his condemnation by those seeking to kill him.

Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Fifth Sunday of Lent, Apr. 6, 2014 (5LentA)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University

Sunday Mass Readings  
Podcast of the Readings 
Video of Reflections on Readings
Lecturas y Comentarios 
Prayer of the Hours
Why do we say the Rosary at Catholic funerals?

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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
Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 37, Verses 12-14

1. God makes two promises to Israel, “I will bring you up from your graves. I will put my spirit within you and you shall live.” On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate these two gifts God promised? Are these promises made to you also?

2. Would your actions change if you really believed you had access to the Holy Spirit at all times? How?

Responsorial Psalms
Psalm 130: 1-8

1. The Psalmist 'cries out' to the Lord for mercy. Have you also cried out to the Lord for forgiveness because of your sins? What was the outcome of your prayer?

2. The Psalm says that 'with the Lord there is fullness of redemption.' Do you believe that the Lord will save you from the consequences of your sins? What does the Lord ask of you in return?

Second Reading
Letter of St. Paul to the Romans, Chapter 8, Verses 8-11

1. Discuss von Balthasar’s idea that if you are guided by the Spirit rather than by the flesh “the germ of divine, eternal life already lives in you with this Spirit and you hold a ‘down-payment,’ as it were, a ticket to God’s life.”

2. St. Paul said, “Those of you who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Do you think he meant, “Those of you who are led by the temptations of the flesh cannot please God”? What is the difference??

Gospel
According to John, Chapter l1, Verses 1-45

1. How does the raising of Lazarus point to Jesus’ words,” I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live”? Compare Jesus’ statement, “Untie him and let him go,” with Moses’ statement to the Pharaoh, “Let my people go.”

2. How would you feel if there were no life after death? But Jesus won the battle over death. What does that mean to you? In all these readings we are encouraged to choose life when faced with “death.” How do you do that in your daily life?

Online Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share your reflections on the above Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.
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