17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 - Genesis 18:20-32: What does justice mean to you? What does mercy mean to you?  As Jesus said, both the weeds and the wheat will grow together until the final harvest. We must learn to live with people who do not always do the right or the best thing, who are weak and sinful. And sometimes those people are us! Can we be merciful toward people who are sinful and weak, including ourselves? How? Our natural tendency is to get even with those who hurt us, to administer our own kind of "justice." What does this story have to say about that?
Reading 2 - Colossians 2:12-14: God does not use his power to force us to pray, or to help others, or to forgive. When do you experience the power of God in your life?  How can you show your gratitude to Jesus this week for dying and rising for us?
Gospel - Luke 11:1-13: Imagine that you are in the group of disciples who asked Jesus to teach them to pray. Are you surprised that this prayer seems so simple and easy?

http://www.sadlierreligion.com/webelieve/weeksliturgy.cfm?section=resource&id=91

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1: Genesis 18:1-10a - Abraham is revered by both Jews and Christians because he was a man of faith. He believed God's promises, even when the odds seemed to be against him. In Eucharistic Prayer I, we ask God to accept our gifts "as you accepted the gifts of Abraham, our father in faith." We are children of Abraham because we believe in God's promises to us. What promises of God do you believe in? 
We often fear the stranger at our door, and it is wise to be cautious. But that should not prevent us from "welcoming strangers" whenever we can. Have new neighbors moved in? How can I welcome them to the neighborhood? Is there someone new at school who would appreciate a friend? Do I stick with old friends at the parish coffee hour or socials, or do I "welcome strangers" as Abraham and Sarah did? Each one of us can be a messenger from God in our own way. If we neglect to welcome others, we may miss the message of God's love given to us in a new friend! In what situations could you welcome newcomers?
Reading 2: Colossians 1:24-28 - Reflect for a moment on "the mystery of Christ in you." How is Christ in you? Do you experience his presence in you? When? How does the fact that Christ is in you give you hope?
Gospel: Luke 10:38-42 - Most of our lives are a combination of Martha and Mary. (Even cloistered monks and nuns, devoted to lives of prayer, have hours of work every day.) However, if our lives are all-Martha-all-the-time, they may be out of balance. We may be missing "the better part." (There is an ironic joke that goes: "At the time of death, no one says, 'I wish I had spent more time at the office.' ") How can we put more Mary-like listening into our lives? When do we make time to listen to our families? our friends? When do we make time to listen to Jesus?

http://www.sadlierreligion.com/webelieve/weeksliturgy.cfm?section=resource&id=90

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Luke 10:25-37 - What is Jesus' message in this parable? If you truly understand Jesus' message, how could you carry it out in your own school, neighborhood, or parish?  What person or people do you find most difficult to recognize as your neighbor?

http://www.sadlierreligion.com/webelieve/gather.cfm?page=faith&sp=§ion=resource&grade=&tp=discussion&id=89

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 - Isaiah 66:10-14c - In our society today, cities are often seen as dangerous. While this can be true, it is not the only truth about city life. It was certainly not the only fact about a city in ancient times. Cities were islands of safety in the midst of a lonely and dangerous environment. In the wilderness, alone, you could run out of food or be attacked by robbers or even wild animals. In the city, with its strong walls and city watchmen, among neighbors and friends, you were safe. In the city was found prosperity and peace. Here the city of Jerusalem is a symbol of safety and security. It is an image of God. Do you ever think of God as a walled city, safe and secure for you? Do you ever think of God as a mother, ready to carry you and comfort you? 
Reading 2 - Galatians 6:14-18 - Rituals are very important to us. The sacraments we receive are ritual actions that carry God's grace. Weddings, baptisms, and funerals help us find God in our lives. The Eucharist strengthens us each week to live our lives in the power of Jesus Christ. But we bring something very important to these rituals. We bring our faith. Faith is God's gift to us. By faith we say yes to God. Think about the way you celebrate the sacraments and other rituals of the Church. How do they help you say yes to God? 
Gospel - Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 - At this time, Jesus had seventy-two disciples. How many disciples does he have today? The number is probably in the millions. What are we, the disciples of Jesus, doing today to announce the kingdom of God? How are we carrying out Jesus' message of love and peace and justice and hope in our world today?
Imagine for a moment that Jesus sent you and a partner into your town or city to proclaim God's kingdom. How would you do it? What would you do first?
Is there a way you could do this very thing in reality? Why or why not?

http://www.sadlierreligion.com/webelieve/gather.cfm?page=faith&sp=§ion=resource&grade=&tp=discussion&id=88

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Discussion Questions for Reading 1: Reading Zec. 12:10-11; 13:1 - Where in the world is God's grace needed today? What difference can it make when people cooperate with God's grace? Where in your own life do you most need God's grace? What will it mean for you to cooperate with God's grace?
Discussion Questions for Reading 2: Galatians 2:16, 19-21 - If you were to name the divisions that exist today what would they be? (e.g. rich and poor) What injustices do you see in your own community? What have you done or can you do to right those injustices?
Discussion Questions for Gospel: Luke 9:18-24 - Discipleship means continually answering the question that Jesus asks, "Who do you say that I am?" We can answer in many ways: in prayer, in our words, in our decisions, in our participation in the community of faith, in our efforts to share his Good News with others. Who do you think answers Jesus' question effectively today? Name one way in which your life answers who you believe Jesus to be.

http://www.webelieveweb.com/home_proclaiming_faith.cfm?reading_id=412&language=eng&book=0

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 - 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13: How hard is it for you ot forgive wrongs done to you?  How hard is it for God to forgive?
Reading 2 - Galatians 2:16, 19-21: Who or what has helped your faith to grow? Who are the people you admire because their faith is so evident? What are the signs of their strong faith? Are people drawn to you because they can see your faith? Or have you made that precious gift of faith pointless, like David and many others?  St. Paul says, "I live by faith in the Sond of God who has loved me & given himself up for me."  Why do you think Jesus gave himself up for us?  Why would he want to live in you?
Gospel - Luke 7:36--8:3 OR 7:36-50: How do we treat one another? Do we treat friends and strangers as if we are all equal? Or do we allow skin color, gender, cultural, economic, or even petty differences stand in the way. Do we sometimes discriminate because someone is different? What if God acted that way toward us?
What is your love barometer? Where do you stand on the scale for accepting all people? Do you make distinctions, like Simon, saying "this person is not good enough?" When someone slights you, are you able to forgive them or do you hold a grudge? How can you show a greater acceptance of others? What can you do to encourage your friends to have a forgiving attitude?

http://www.webelieveweb.com/home_proclaiming_faith.cfm?reading_id=86&language=eng&book=0 and http://liturgy.slu.edu/11OrdC061310/reflections_osdieck.html

Solemnity of the Body & Blood of Christ

Discussion Questions for Reading 1 - Genesis 14:18-20: Eucharistic Prayer I mentions both Abraham and Melchizedek, soon after our offering of bread and wine has become the "the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation."

Look with favor on these offerings

and accept them as once you accepted

the gifts of your servant Abel,

the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith,

and the bread and wine offered by your priest Melchizedek.

(Sacramentary, Eucharistic Prayer I)

Now we are offering Jesus back to the Father?and ourselves in him! After all these centuries of offerings, it is your turn to give yourself to God. How can you do this today, in your life?
Discussion Questions for Reading 2 - 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: There are four important actions in every account of the first Eucharist: takes, gives thanks (or blesses), breaks, and shares. These four actions are present in our Eucharist today. In our Eucharist, this does not happen all at once. First, the priest repeats the words of Scripture as he does what Jesus did. When does the priest take and give thanks (or bless, or consecrate) the bread and wine? When does he break the bread, now the Body of Christ? When does he share the Body and Blood of Christ with us? Watch for these words and actions the next time you celebrate the Eucharist. How does it feel to know that you are participating in the action of Jesus that began at the Last Supper and still continues today?
Discussion Questions for Gospel - Luke 9:11b-17: What four actions of Jesus make this event similar to the event of the Last Supper? This story shows Jesus taking ordinary food and asking that his disciples share it. How can we share ordinary food with the hungry today? 
Consider this contradiction: I always share the Body and Blood of Christ at the Eucharist. I never share ordinary food with the hungry. It seems from this event that Jesus would want us to do both.
How can we match up our willingness to share food with the hungry with our willingness to share Jesus in the Eucharist? How can we show our gratitude for the eucharistic meal Jesus shares with us and with our parishes? Can we accept the challenge to share with others in need, even if what we have to share seems small and insignificant?

http://www.webelieveweb.com/home_proclaiming_faith.cfm?reading_id=85&language=eng&book=0