"Child, your sins are forgiven."

Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Seventh Sunday In Ordinary Time, Feb. 19, 2012 (7B)
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: Should you Confess before 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
Isaiah, Chapter 43, Verses 18-19, 21-22, 24-25

1. God says he is wiping out the people’s sins for his own sake. Does this mean that he is not doing it for the sake of the people? Have they displeased him? Does this mean that even our sins cannot prevent God from loving us and forgiving us?

2. In this reading, God says, "I am doing something new!....your sins I remember no more.” How does it make you feel to know that forgiveness and mercy are available to you all the time, even when you don't deserve them; that God isn’t keeping track of all your evil deeds, but forgets them all instead? How are you at forgetting other people’s transgressions against you?

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 41: 2-3, 4-5, 13-14

1. The Psalm speaks about the need for healing when one has sinned against the Lord. Our psalmist says the Lord will help the sinner on his sickbed. Do you believe that being in a state of sin is the same as being afflicted with a sickness? If so, who is the physician that will take away your ailment and how do you get him to cure you?

2. Our psalmist seeks to stand in the Lord's presence forever. He also suggests that he will be restored from his misfortune because of his regard for the weak and the lowly. Does this remind you of the regard that our savior Jesus also had for the weak. What do you have to do to be able to stand in the Lord's presence for all eternity?

Second Reading
2 Corinthians, Chapter 1, Verses 18-22
1. What does a “first installment” of the Spirit imply? What does it mean to you to have the Holy Spirit in your heart, ready to help you in any and every circumstance of your life? Do you ever remember this gift when you are in trouble?

2. The Spirit is in your heart helping you in all things. If this is the first installment, then what do you suppose the final installment or the payment in full will be?

Gospel
Mark, Chapter 2, Verses 1-12

1. What obstacles might have stood in the way of the men taking their paralyzed friend to Jesus? Whose faith did Jesus reward? Do obstacles stop you? What allows you to do the impossible? Referring to the fact that the friends got the paralytic in to see Jesus, discuss Willa Cather’s statement: “Where there is great love, there are miracles.”

2. Why were the scribes concerned about Jesus forgiving sins? Jesus said, "Which is easier, to say...' Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, "Rise, pick up your mat and walk?'" So why do you think Jesus performed that miracle?

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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