August 1, 2010
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 
Lk 12:13-21 Gospel
Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him,“Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”
Spiritual Reflection:
Jesus reminds us once again that material possessions really do not matter becasue we cannot take them with us when we die.
Spiritual Questions:
1. If material possessions do not matter then what does really matter?
2. What really matters to God and why?
3. Have you ever persistently prayed for something? Did you receive it?
4. Why do you think that we put such a high value on material things?
5. Why do you think that landowner chose to build a bigger barn instead of helping others?
August 8, 2010
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lk 12:32-48 Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants. Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, the master will put the servant in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the aid servants,
to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
Spiritual Reflection:
Jesus reminds us that we have been given much and much will be expected of us and while it seems that the Master is away He will return quickly and we will have to give an account of all that we have been given.
Spiritual Questions:
1. Why do you think the main servant beat the others? Did he not realize that one day the master would return?
2. Are you prepared the moment Jesus enters your life? At communion? at the end of the world?
3. What can you do to be prepared always?
4. What talents have you not used yet?
5. Is there any behaviors of yours that Jesus would frown upon when He returns?
August 15, 2010
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryLk 1:39-56 Gospel
Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
Spiritual Reflection:
The feast of the Assumption reminds us as does today's Gospel passage that the whole world has been turned upside down. We should no longer be worried about wordly things but rather about Godly things.
Spiritual Questions:
1. What do you make of Mary's song?
2. Why do you think Mary went to serve Elizabeth?
3. Does God remember His promises?
4. Do you recognize Jesus in others?
5. What role does Mary play in your life?
August 22, 2010
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lk 13:22-30 Gospel
Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him,“Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from. And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
Spiritual Reflection:
Jesus informs us that not everyone will be saved and in fact the way to heaven is through a narrow gate. Why is it then that so often we justify things in our lives by saying "everyone is doing it?"
Spiritual Questions:
1. Do you think a lot of people will be saved? Why and how does that effect your view of the world and your life?
2. Why do you think certain people will not make it into heaven?
3. It seems that some will try to force their way into heaven and be denied. Why if God is holding open the gate for us do certain people feel that they have to break down the door?
4. How do you make moral decisions?
5. How do you behave when you go over to someone's house? Do you make the rules or do they? How could this be similar to heaven?
August 29, 2010
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lk 14:1, 7-14 Gospel
On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table. “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place.
Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” Then he said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Spiritual Reflection:
Jesus points out to us that often we, human beings, do things for others based on condition. I will be nice to you becasue I want something from you. He then challenges us to do good things for others unconditionally. Wow what a challenge!!!
Spiritual Questions:
1. What can you do to become more and more unselfish in your life?
2. Have you ever experienced someone helping you unconditionally?
3. Have you ever helped someone unconditionally?
4. Who do you invite to your social parties? Do you ever exclude somebody out of spite or because they are uncool?
5. Are you ready to accept the challenge of being a Christian?
September 5, 2010
23rd Sunday Ordinary Time
Gospel
Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, "If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, 'This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.' Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way,
anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple."
Spiritual Reflection:
The Gospel points out that there is a great difference between being part of the crowd that is following Jesus and being a true disciple. While it is easy to simply follow Jesus becuase that is what everyone is doing it becomes much harder to be a true disciple when others, especially those closest to us like our family and friends, do not follow Jesus.
Spiritual Questions:
1. What do you think are some of the difference between being a true follower of Jesus and just being one of the crowd?
2. What are some of the crosses that you are bearing and how are they leading you closer to the Lord?
3. What lessons have you learned from failures that you can apply to your spiritual life?
4. Do you and your family agree about religion? If not how do you address the differences?
5. Are you ready to follow Jesus? If not what is holding you back?
September 12, 2010
24th Sunday Ordinary Time
Gospel
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them he addressed this parable. "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. "Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.' In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Then he said, "A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, 'Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, 'How many of my father's hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers."' So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.' But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.' Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, 'Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, 'Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns, who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.' He said to him, 'My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'"
Spiritual Reflection:
Notice that spacial arrangements in Luke's story. It seems that the Pharisees are moving further and further away from Our Lord because sinners and tax collectors are "drawing near to listen." The Pharisees instead of listening to Jesus' words of love and forgiveness are too busy judging and condeming others and thus they are not only physically moving further away from Jesus they are also moving further away from Him spiritually as well.
Spiritual Questions:
1. How is your attitude toward others when you feel close to God? How does it differ from your attitude when you feel far from God?
2. Is how you treat others a good indication of how your relationship with God is going?
3. Which charachter in the story of the Prodigal Son do you feel that you are most like and why?
4. How is seeking forgiveness like being raised from the dead?
5. Describe the Father's actions in details and compare them to the ideas you have about God.
September 19, 2010
25th Sunday Ordinary Time
Gospel Jesus said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, 'What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.' The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.' He called in his master's debtors one by one. To the first he said, 'How much do you owe my master?' He replied, 'One hundred measures of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.' Then to another the steward said, 'And you, how much do you owe?' He replied, 'One hundred kors of wheat.' The steward said to him, 'Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.' And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. "For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon."
Spiritual Reflection:
One of my teachers in seminary told my class that just because he assigned a book for us to read that it did not mean that he agreed with everything in it. He went on to say that we were adults and that we had the ability to discern what was good in a book and what bad. I think in a similar way Jesus asks us to look at the image of the dishonest servant. While what he is doing is bad his desire to preserve his life is good. We should imitate his zeal for life by devoting ourselves wholeheartily in the service of the Lord in order to gain eternal life.
Spiritual Questions:
1. Why do you think Jesus uses the image of the dishonest servant?
2. What is your attitude toward money and how does it affect your faith?
3. Does God care about money? Why or why not?
4. Are you trustworhty in small matters?
5. How zealous are you for the things of the Lord?
September 26, 2010
26th Sunday Ordinary Time
Gospel
Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"
Spiritual Reflection:
It has always struck me as odd that even in Hell the rich man tries to order Lazarus around. Do you think that maybe he is in hell because his bad habits have been solidified.
Spiritual Questions:
1. What bad habits do you have that may keep you out of heaven? What are you doing to change them?
2. Why do you think that the rich man felt entitled to ignore or boss Lazarus around?
3. Why did God not make a bigger deal about His resurrection? In other words why does He give us the Scriptures instead of a more substantial sign of His resurrection?
4. What example are you setting for your relatives?
5. Why do you think hell exists?
October 3, 2010
27th Sunday Ordinary Time Gospel
The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." The Lord replied, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. "Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'? Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"
Spiritual Reflection:
Today Jesus reminds us through the imagery of master and servants that we are not God. In fact we get into more trouble when we try to play God instead of bowing to His will. God though is not a harsh master but rather a loving master who bends over backwards to respect our free will and to show us His love. Do we show God gratitude for His kindness to us?
Spiritual Questions:
1. What are some ways in which you serve God?
2. Why do you serve God? Is it to earn heaven? Return God's love?
3. Compare this reading with Jesus' action of footwashing at the Last Supper
4. What does this reading have to teach us about the virtue of humility?
5. Can you name a time in which you tried to play God and be in control and it ended up bad?
October 10, 2010
28th Sunday Ordinary Time
Gospel
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" And when he saw them, he said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?" Then he said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you."
Spiritual Reflection:
Jesus demonstrates for us today God's unconditional love by cleansing all 10 lepers and not just the one who would come back to show gratitude nor does He take away the cure from the other 9 becasue of their lack of gratitude.
Spiritual Questions:
1. What was the last thing you thank God for?
2. How often do you love unconditionally?
3. When was the last time you forgave someone for being ungrateful?
4. What are somethings that you can do to practice gratitude?
5. Do you believe that God loves you unconditionally or do you try to bargain with Him?
October 17, 2010
29th Sunday Ordinary Time
Gospel
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Spiritual Reflection:
Jesus implores us to pray constantly to God for what we need. St. John of the Cross, a medieval Spanish mystic, talked about the "dark night of the soul." Simply stated St. John beleive that when we first begin to pray God gives us good feelings so that we know that prayer is good but from time to time God removes those good feelings from our prayer life so that we will learn to pray to be in relationship with Him and not simply for the good feelings. Unfortunately many people simply stop praying when they run into a "dry" spell in their prayer life instead of practicing the virtue of perseverance.
Spiritual Questions:
1. Do you think the Son of Man will find faith on the earth?
2. What do you do when you run into "dry" spells in your prayer?
3. How consistant are you in your daily prayers?
4. Explain the comparison between God and the dishonest judge?
5. How can you become more consistant in your prayers?
October 24, 2010
30th Sunday Ordinary Time
Gospel
Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity -- greedy, dishonest, adulterous -- or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.' I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Spiritual Reflection:
Jesus explains to us that true prayer is not about telling God how awesome we are but rather reminding ourselves of how loving and forgiving God is. At the beginning of each Mass we stop and pray the Pentitential rite so that we can remind ourselves of our need for God and of His rich love and mercy.
Spiritual Questions:
1. Why do you think that there are so many self-righteous people?
2. Does God need our praise?
3. What do you think about during the pential rite at Mass?
4. When was the last time you went to the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
5. How do you humble yourself?
October 31, 2010
31st Sunday Ordinary Time
Gospel
At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner." But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost."
Spiritual Reflection:
Have you ever noticed how rude Jesus is sometimes? At the beginning of the Gospel Jesus takes over Peter's boat and then orders him out into the deep and today's Gospel Jesus invites Himself over to Zacchaeus' house. Perphaps it is not rudness at all but rather the spiritual truth that God wants to be an active part in our lives
Spiritual Questions:
1. Zaccheus changed after eating at table with Jesus, how have you changed after eating with Jesus at the Mass?
2. Would your house be ready for Jesus if He came today?
3. What would you be willing to give up to make yourself a better person?
4. What are you willing to do to make up for your sins?
5. Have you ever had to struggle to see Jesus past a crowd of others?
November 7, 2010
32nd Sunday Ordinary Time
Gospel
Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone's brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her." Jesus said to them, "The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called out 'Lord, ' the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."
Spiritual Reflection:
Jesus explains to us in today's Gospel that relationships in heaven are not as complicated as they are on earth. Rather in heaven each person is respected as a person and each person desires what is best for the other person and so everyone has their needs met through very non-selfish ways.
Spiritual Questions:
1. Is there someone in your family that you have a hard time getting along with? If so how can you work to make the relationship look more like a relationship in heaven?
2. Divorce and death can really bring a lot of division into a family do you believe that God can heal those divisions?
3. Jesus is the God of the living. Do you pray for deceased relatives and do you believe that they are a live in Christ?
4. How can you honor your relatives that have gone before you?
5. How can you honor your future relatives?
November 14, 2010
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel
While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here-- the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down." Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,’ and 'The time has come.’ Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky. "Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives."
Spiritual Reflection:
Jesus reminded His contemporaries in today's Gospel that all material things no matter how spectacular will pass away. He reminds us and warns us that if we are to inherit the spiritual things that He wishes to give us then we must remain faithful to him during times of persecution.
Spiritual Questions:
1. What does your family think about your faith? How does this make you feel?
2. What liturgical preferences do you have and how do you prevent them from becoming necessisties?
3. When was the last time you attended a different Mass in your parish or sat in a different seat?
4. Do you pray for your relatives who do not practice their faith?
5. Do you think that you will remain faithful and if so why?
November 21, 2010
The Solemnity of Christ the King
Gospel
The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God." Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out, "If you are King of the Jews, save yourself." Above him there was an inscription that read, "This is the King of the Jews." Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Spiritual Reflection:
Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. When we use secular terms like "king" though we must remind ourselves that God's ways are not our ways. While we would have come down from the cross and killed everyone in sight Jesus remains on His cross in order to show the full extent of His love and to ultimatley triumph over sin, hate, and death.
Spiritual Questions:
1. While in the midsts of great suffering Jesus forgives everyone? What is your attitude toward others when you are suffering?
2. Do you make fun of Christ by the way you live?
3. How is God's kingship different than human kingship?
4. "Have you no fear of God?"
5. What does it mean to you to proclaim Jesus Christ as your King?
