"If you wish, you can make me clean."

Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Feb. 12, 2012 (6B)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University

Sunday Mass 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
Leviticus, Chapter 13, Verses 1-2, 44-46

1. Compare and contrast the way lepers were treated in the Old Testament (First Reading) with the way Jesus treated them.

2. How would you feel if because of some ritual, you were made to tear your clothes, be excluded, made to live apart from those you love and forced to announce your presence by shouting, “Unclean”? Discuss rules, regulations or rituals that could be improved by taking people’s feelings into consideration.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 32: 1-2, 5, 11

1. This Sunday's Psalm Response is, "I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation." Tell of a 'time of trouble' in your life when you turned to the Lord, confessed your faults, and were filled with the 'joy of salvation.'

2. Our psalmist is grateful for God's gift of forgiveness; having confessed his sin before God, he is a new creation thanks to the grace of God. Give an example of how your anxiety over your sin ceases when you bow down and confess your faults to the Lord.


Second Reading
1 Corinthians, Chapter 10, Verse 31, Chapter 11, Verse 1

1. St. Paul says, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” What is the “whatever you do” in your case? During which of your day’s activities is it easy for you to remember the presence of God? Which are hard?

2. "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." On his own, could Paul take away people's sins? Could he reach out to people and heal them spiritually through the power of Jesus? What can you do through the power of Jesus?

Gospel
Mark, Chapter 1, Verses 40-45

1. Using Jesus’ healing of the leper as an example, describe the new world order that he was trying to establish. The old laws were written on stone—where do you think Jesus’ new laws are written?

2. "Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, 'I do will it. Be made clean.' " If you come to Jesus with a problem, do you think he will be moved with pity and touch you in some healing way? Have you been healed in any way? Can you help heal those who are ailing around you? How can your scars help in healing others?

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