WHY CATHOLIC WEEK 6 Session 2
“Why Catholic” – Week of October 30th. Book – Lifting Up Our Hearts, praying with the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, by Peter J. ZografosSession Six– “I Shall Be Healed To Go Forth” Please Read: Scripture – Luke 7: 1-10Reflection – Have you ever almost given? Thought about it, but didn’t? Did you almost give to the St. Vincent de Paul Society or the man on the street with the sign that read, “ Will Work For Food?” Have you ever looked into the eyes of the man standing on the corner, begging for some change or a dollar? Did you give him a dollar? Did you thank God that you had several more dollars in your own pocket to spend? God said, “give of your first fruits,” not the leftovers. God gave us his only Son, Jesus Christ; who died for our sins, gave us freedom and healing. Jesus Christ gave his life so that we might have life. God gives from a full heart an abundant spirit. We receive this gift each time we are drawn to the table of the Lord. We as a community are forgiven and forgiving people. We are sent forth to go forth and announce the Gospel. How do we live out our week to reflect our promise on Sunday? Giving is the only way that we can express our gratitude for what we have received. Giving is another way that we experience spirituality. Action –Find out what your parish does to reach out to people in need, and get involved.
Why Catholic Week 5 Session 2
“Why Catholic” – Week of October 30th. Book – Lifting Up Our Hearts, praying with the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, by Peter J. ZografosSession Five – “Until You Come Again” Please Read: Scripture – Mark 8: 1-21These passages have a common thread; feeding the four thousand, sharing stories, abundance, signs, relationships, hospitality, and building community. How many times do we not have enough? Enough food, water, or gadgets? What is enough? What are we lacking? Do we share our abundance of enough with others? How can we share our journey with others? What is more important, a big meal with all the trimmings with no sharing of relationships, or a simple meal with friends and rounds of laughter? Reflection- What do we need to feed our body and what do we need to feed our spirit? Action – Reach out and share what God has given you. Next week prepare and read – Session Six - “I Shall Be Healed To Go Forth”..
Why Catholic Week 4 Session 2
“Why Catholic” – Week of October 23.
Book – Lifting Up Our Hearts, praying with the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, by Peter J. Zografos
Session Four – “I Believe”
When we stand together and proclaim one faith and one baptism, we are professing what we believe. We say “I” but as a community all together, “ I and We” are joined as one. This week’s session, concentrates on the Nicene Creed and what “We” as Catholics Believe. It starts out, “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. Can you remember what words were said at the end of this phrase? The words visible and invisible take the place of seen and unseen. As you read through the remainder of the prayer, each phrase has a little change in the wording, which is hardly noticeable.
Reflection- Think about each phrase as you read The Nicene Creed, and pick out some image or word that is meaningful to you. Who in your life has helped you to BELIEVE? Can you share with others in your group about a time when believing was hard to do? What made you change your belief?
Scripture Reading – John 20: 24-29
Action – Reach out to an outsider, an immigrant, a young adult, pray for those on our sick list, visit a member of our community who is in rehab.
Next week prepare and read –“Until You Come Again” .
“Why Catholic” – Week of October 16.
Book – Lifting Up Our Hearts, praying with the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, by Peter J. Zografos
Session Three – “You Alone Are The Lord”
Praying the Gloria, reminds us that all creation comes to its fullness in God through Christ. This is really a hymn about the abundance of God. In Paul’s words, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” If we know this then we can be assured that any challenge or obstacle can be overcome. We have the ultimate gift through God, of his self in Jesus for the sake of all. God gives his abundant love for us, through Jesus Christ and the grace of peace of the Holy Spirit.
Reflection - Where do we find and experience the glory of God? Is it in those hectic moments when our lives seem to fall apart, and just for a second in all of the noise of the world we find peace? Is it in those everyday moments, when we see a child smile, see a beautiful sunset or listen to the howling of the wind on a wintery night? Could it be in all of the mundane moments that we meet ourselves and the presence of God in a very special relationship? Ask yourself, how does my life glorify God?
Scripture Readings – Exodus 3:5, Romans 8: 33-35
Action – Share with your group, some aspect of the Grace of God that you encountered this week.
Next Week-Prepare and read, “I Believe”.
Book – Lifting Up Our Hearts, praying with the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, by Peter J. Zografos
Session Two – “Have Mercy on Us, Oh Lord”
This weeks’ session focuses on the Penitential Rite. It’s more than acknowledging our individual sins; it is a public communal acknowledgement of sin. By what means do we communicate our crushed dreams, our loss, our sorrows, and the pain of a broken world? One way of course is through our participation in the Liturgy and reciting the Penitential Rite during Mass. I would say that most of us know when we have offended our neighbor or a family member or blamed someone unjustly. But do we recognize it when we have closed our eyes to all those who are marginalized: the divorced, persons with disabilities, the stranger among us, the abandoned, and the homeless?
In the Penitential Rite, there are several lines of the prayer that speak to our sins of omission; …” that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do.” “What I Have Failed To Do.” Ask yourself these questions: How is sin active in my own life? Who am I excluding from my table? Have I been hospitable to the stranger? After reflection of and careful thought to answering these questions; can we become more attentive to welcoming and being more inclusive in our communities?
If you are pondering these questions with a group of people you might be challenged to seek out and share with them what your current celebration of liturgy does to help build the reign of God. Or, how you have experienced God’s Mercy?
Scripture Reading – Nehemiah 1:5-9
Read and compare this scripture to your current community and to that in Nehemiah’s prayer. Do you see any similarities?
Action - Help the marginalized in your community. Visit the homebound, volunteer in a soup kitchen, nursing home or homeless shelter. Pray for the safe return of our military in Afghanistan.
Next Week – Prepare and read, “ You Alone Are the Lord”
