"Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary?"

Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 8, 2012 (14B)

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 freedom? What does it mean to you?

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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
Ezekiel 2:2-5

1. Are there prophets in your life? Are you sometimes stubborn and closed about listening to their messages? Why? Why do you reject the person or the message?

3. Do you think the ordinary prophet has great success or runs into opposition most of the time? Have you and/or your ideas ever been rejected when you tried to change something for the better? How do you handle rejection?

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 123: 1-2, 2, 3-4

1. Our psalmist calls for us to fix our eyes on the Lord. Describe how you focus on the Lord in your faith journey. Tell how you are able to discern God's will for your life.

2. Our psalmist says he is fed up, having been the object of contempt and mockery from the arrogant ones around him. Even Jesus was mocked in his native village. Tell of how you deal with insult and persecution when you proclaim the Gospel.

Second Reading
2 Corinthians 12:7-10


1. If you went out shopping for weaknesses or crosses for you to bear, would you pick the ones you already have or would you pick different ones? Why? Do you find God in your weakness? Can weakness be a constant source of grace?

2. “My grace is sufficient for you.” Do you or your friends rely on these words? Are they easy or hard to remember? How often do you bring them out and use them?

Gospel
Mark 6:1-6

1. Which hurts worse, rejection by strangers or friends? Call to mind the times Jesus felt rejection. Was Jesus happy about his rejection or distressed? Can you think of theologians, saints, or scientists who were rejected for their ideas?

2. How is your rejection related to that of Jesus? When you are denounced, what good thing happens to you? Whose power are you using when you have no power of your own?

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.