For Elijah, for Jesus, and for us, bread is fundamental to life. Bread stands at the center of life. Bread is life. And in today's Gospel (Jn. 6:41-51) we hear about Jesus who is the Bread of Life. Christ is life: He is the bread of life.
Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 12, 2012 (19B)
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: Half a Eucharist?
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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
1 Kings 19: 4-8
1. In this reading sometimes we are Elijah and sometimes we are like the
hearth cake. Think of times in your life when you wanted to cry,
“Enough” and you could have used a good hearth cake. Did help come? How?
2. God sent help to Elijah in the form of an angel. What kind of help do
you think God would send today? Name some ways you can be the “hearth
cake“ for a person in a desperate state.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
1. Our psalmist tells us how to obtain a joyful spirit, "Look to the
Lord that you may be radiant with joy." Describe how the Lord has given
you inner joy in the course of relieving you from your afflictions.
2. The Psalm says that the angel of the Lord 'encamps' around those who
fear Him and delivers them. Speak of how your faith has been a source
of strength and deliverance in the face of difficulty or persecution.
Second Reading
Ephesians 4:30–5:2
1. Do you think you could get better at “being an imitator of God?” How?
Is it more likely to happen all at once because you want it to, or a
little at a time because you work at letting God into you? If you were
going to work at this, where would you start?
2. Do you know any ”imitators of God?” What kinds of things do/did they do?
Gospel
John 6:41-51
1. The crowd murmured when Jesus said he was the bread that came down
from heaven. How did knowing his mother and father impact the crowd’s
willingness to believe him? Is it easy to accept a “prophet (one who
speaks for God) in your own circle of acquaintances? Explain.
2. Sometimes our old ideas get in the way of new wisdom that the Holy
Spirit might present to us. Rate the difficulty in easing that type of
problem in general, and personally.
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.
Showing posts with label bread of life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bread of life. Show all posts
Thursday
"I am the bread of life"
There is so much failure in our lives even though we pretend otherwise. In order not to starve, we must accept the real food that God sends us, the Bread of life and the Cup of Salvation.
Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 5, 2012 (18B)
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 the Mass a Banquet or a Sacrifice?
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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
--------------------------------------------
First Reading
Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
1. The Israelites muttered. No food in the desert. Memories of fleshpots in Egypt, where they were captives. How is your trust in God when God calls you to new places in your spiritual life or work?
2. What is it that the people must learn when God tells them to take only the manna they need for that day? Should countries apply the “take what you need” lesson to natural resources? To food?
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 145: 10-11, 15-16, 17-18
1. Our psalmist promises, "We will declare to the generation to come the glorious deeds of the Lord ...." What part have you played in passing on your faith to the next generation?
2. Our Psalm speaks of the Lord bringing His people to 'His holy land, to the mountains His right hand has won.' What does it take for you to be able to climb the mountain of the Lord?
Second Reading
Ephesians 4:17, 20-24
1. One translation has Paul calling the Ephesians to a spiritual revolution (turning or drastic change). If you personally were to have a spiritual revolution, what would go and what would stay in your life? Would you add anything new?
2. How is this reading an explanation of baptism?
Gospel
John 6:24-35
1. The people reminded Jesus about the manna in Moses’ time and asked if he had a sign like that. What lesson did Jesus teach in answer?
2. “Our ancestors ate manna in the desert.” What is the food that you need for your life’s journey? Why do you think Jesus comes to us as bread or even as food? Would you have found that idea “hard to endure” if you were one of his disciples?
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.
--
"Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"
Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 29, 2012 (17B)
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: Eucharist? Communion? Which is it?
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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
--------------------------------------------
First Reading
2 Kings 4:42-44
1. Twenty loaves won’t be enough to feed the crowd. Elisha knows this. He has to trust God over his own logic. Is this leap-of-faith kind of trust ever required in your life? Discuss whether this kind of trust becomes easier with practice.
2. Both Elisha and the man from Baal-shalishah had to trust that a miracle would happen. Do you consider anything besides “something that breaks the laws of nature” a miracle? What are some everyday miracles in your life?
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 145: 10-11, 15-16, 17-18
1. The Psalm Response this Sunday is, "The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs." Tell of the ways you are being fed by the Lord, spiritually, and physically.
2. Our psalmist says, "The Lord is near to all who call upon him ...." Explain how you have reached out to the Lord and how He is present to you.
Second Reading
Ephesians 4:1-6
1. Paul reminds the brothers and sisters to “strive to preserve unity.” Was this a directive only for the Ephesians? What do you do to preserve unity?
2. Which would be better, to preserve the peace by not talking to anyone with whom we disagree, or preserve the unity by staying at the table and talking it out?
Gospel
John 6:1-15
1. Perhaps Jesus’ sharing encouraged all the others to share their food…the first potluck. What negative qualities in human nature does sharing go against? Using this interpretation of the feeding of 5000, what are the implications regarding the inequality of resources and starvation all over the world?
2. What do you think God is more likely to do, miraculously drop food where there is starvation or inspire people to help their neighbors solve their problems? If the latter, how can you help (through the Holy Spirit) in third world countries, your city, diocese, parish, office, or neighborhood?
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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