This Sunday's Gospel for Oct. 5, 2014 (27A) is a most appropriate message for the celebration of Respect Life Sunday. It is the start of a month-long period when Catholics across the nation join together to witness to the inherent equality and transcendent value of every human being. And one of the main gifts we have from God is the gift of life for which we are responsible.
Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Oct 5, 2014 (27A)
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 Catholics Join Non-Catholic Bible Studies?
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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 the prophet Isaiah, Chapter 5, Verses 1-7
1. Isaiah sings about his friend’s vineyard: “Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?” What kind of “grapes” will God find in your vineyard?
2. “My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; he spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press.” The owner was devoted to the vineyard and did all the work mentioned above to produce a bountiful harvest. What was the job of the vineyard? How did it fail?
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20
1. Our psalmist speaks of a vineyard where the Lord has broken down its walls, so that every passer-by plucks its fruit. What would you do if you were in danger of losing the Lord's protection? Explain.
2. The Psalm contains a petition to the Lord, asking for new life and to be restored. For some of us, petitioning the Lord may not be our first resort when we are troubled or facing difficulties. Can you identify with the Israelites in this Psalm who are seeking to be revived by God? Explain
Second Reading
Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, Chapter 4, Verses 6-9
1. How do you feel about peace standing guard over your mind and heart in Christ? What does St. Paul say takes the place of the anxiety? What replaces the worries? Is this true for you?
2. For what are all people of good will reaching when they embrace what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent and worthy of praise? What are you able to embrace if you are tied up with anxieties? Discuss.
Gospel
According to Matthew, Chapter 21, Verses 33-43
1. Name some of God’s servants who have been sent as messengers and have spent or lost their lives. Which ones do you admire most? Why? Who are God’s messengers today? What changes in society do they advocate?
2. How can you be God’s messenger or voice in some way in your community, work or Church? What changes in society can you work toward? As a messenger, what would you be willing to endure: contempt, suspicion, death?
Online Sunday Bible Study Group
Please share below your thoughts on the Sunday Readings. May we be blessed by God's words as reflected in your thoughts and experience-sharing.
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This Psalm is a prayer
ReplyDeleteto restore the Israelites to God’s vineyard.
The chosen people have lost God’s protection;
God has removed the hedge that he put around them.
“God brought a vine out of Egypt … and planted it.”
But what kind of fruit did God’s vineyard bear?
The prophet Isaiah says in our 1st reading that
despite all God’s efforts,
nothing but wild grapes was produced.
And so God broke down the vineyard’s walls,
letting the “boar strip the vine
and the beast feed upon it.”
There is a message here for all of us
who do not bear fruit and use our resources wisely.
We could lose God’s protection,
and we may not be able to defend ourselves
from the evil one that prowls around like a roaring lion.
We, like the Israelites, need to beg for God’s mercy.
“Turn again, Lord of hosts … attend to this vine.”
St. Paul encourages us in today's 2nd reading
to petition the Lord and seek his peace,
the peace that will guard our hearts and minds,
and restore us as his people.
If we’re not careful,
the kingdom will be taken away from us
as it was in the Gospel for today.
We are like the Israelites and need to be revived.
“Give us new life, and we will call on your name.”
Where does our hope for revival come from?
It comes from our savior,
sent by the Lord, our cornerstone.
In him we are restored.
“Lord of hosts restore us;
let your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved.”
Amen