adult faith-sharing groups...have undergone martyrdom, for all involved in evangelization, and for...

At Home with the Word® 2019 © 2018, Liturgy Training Publications. 800-933-1800. Written by Michael R. Prendergast. Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

December 2, 2018First Sunday of Advent

Questions ◆ In Jeremiah’s prophecy, why will people call Jerusalem “The Lord our justice”? How is the Lord your justice?

◆ Today’s Responsorial Psalm says that God “teaches the humble his way.” In what concrete ways can we be humble before God so as to receive his teaching?

◆ As holy people of God, what are we doing to make our hearts “blameless in holiness” as we wait for the coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ? How can we act on Paul’s words in our own lives?

Activities ◆ In the First Reading, God speaks (through Jeremiah) about fulfilling a promise to his people. Talk about what the word “promise” means to you. Consider ways in which you keep or break promises.

◆ As you go through the week, try to be attentive to the fact that we are holy in God’s eyes. Listen for times in the liturgy when you hear the word “holy” relating to the members of the assembly.

◆ In 1980, Sisters Maura Clark, Ita Ford, and Dorothy Kasel and Jean Donovan, a lay volunteer, were murdered in El Salvador. Take time this week to pray for all those who have been martyred defending the faith of the Church.

Adult Faith-Sharing Groups


Activities ◆ Take time to celebrate Catholic customs at home. (Home is sometimes called “the domestic church.”) These customs might include gather-ing the household around an Advent wreath for prayer, using the seasonal color of violet (purple), making more time for personal prayer, or creating a Jesse tree.

◆ As you move through your week, look for the great and the good, the many blessings that surround you. Talk with a friend about all the positive things you notice.

◆ On December 12, the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Pray in solidarity with the people of Central and South America who have immigrated to the United States from the south, and especially with those who face deportation and discrimination.

Questions ◆ Israel waited to receive God’s abundant bless-ings. Since our lives are filled with these abun-dant blessings, in what ways do we give thanks for God’s generosity in our lives? What in our lives needs to be made low so that we may bask in the glory of God?

◆ Paul prays that we will be able to “discern what is of value.” What are the things of true value in your life?

◆ Who is the John the Baptist in your life who is calling you to prepare the way of the Lord?


December 9, 2018Second Sunday of Advent


Activities ◆ Today, we celebrate Gaudete Sunday, (“gaudete” means “rejoice!”). Take an informal survey of family and friends on how they open themselves to the spirit of rejoicing, even when they aren’t feeling particularly joyful.

◆ This week begins the celebration of Las Posadas, an Advent novena with roots in Mexican and Mexican-American communities. The novena reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn (posada). Find out what parishes in your area are celebrating this devotion and join in.

◆ On December 17, we begin using the “O” antiphons. These seven refrains for the Canticle of Mary are sung every night at Evening Prayer and lead us to Christmas. Each begins with “O,” followed by a title applied to Jesus and drawn from the Old Testament. These titles are in the hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Find the words here (scroll down) www. hymntime.com/tch/htm/o/c/o/ocomocom .htm and pray a verse each day for the next seven days.

Questions ◆ Throughout the week, try to imagine a joy so great that you would shout and sing, as Zephaniah directs us to do. In what ways does God rejoice over us and renew us in love?

◆ Are there concrete ways in which we can dismiss anxiety from our lives, as Paul describes? What strategies might help us avoid petty disputes and respond to this week’s call, “Gaudete!” (rejoice)?

◆ John’s mission was to preach and baptize. How are we living out our baptismal calling? What does it mean to you to evangelize? In what ways are we good news to others?


December 16, 2018Third Sunday of Advent


Activities ◆ In today’s Gospel, we hear the story of Mary hurriedly travelling over the hills to meet her cousin, Elizabeth. Consider visiting an elderly or homebound person in your community today and bring a greeting of joy.

◆ This week can be a hectic one for most people. How can you preserve some inner calm in order to experience the holiness of these days? Think about what works best for you and make a plan for quiet prayer, attentive listening to seasonal sacred music, sacred reading, spiritual conversation, or perhaps a meditative walk.

◆ Talk with family members or friends about your childhood memories of the days before Christmas—especially the feelings of anticipa-tion. Consider how anticipation focuses and intensifies our experiences and what spiritual insights might result from it.

Questions ◆ As spiritual heirs to the people from whom the Shepherd of the flock came, we too are called to peace. In what ways are we becoming a people filled with peace?

◆ Jesus fulfills the will of God. In what ways are we fulfilling God’s will for us? As we celebrate the Paschal Sacrifice, can we match our attitude to that of Christ?

◆ Today’s Gospel and the time of Advent remind us of parallels: between Mary and Elizabeth, between John and Jesus. Can we make similar parallels between the people of these Scriptures and our own lives? Mary is blessed among women. In what ways do we reverence the role of women in the family, in the Church, and in society?


December 23, 2018Fourth Sunday of Advent


Activities ◆ Many people find the celebration of Christmas to be a hardship. Are there people in your community who have recently lost a loved one or who live alone? Consider inviting them to join your holiday festivities or arrange a visit with them.

◆ In the days immediately following Christmas, the Church commemorates the feasts of St. Stephen, the first martyr; St. John, evangelist; and the Holy Innocents. Pray for all those who have undergone martyrdom, for all involved in evangelization, and for innocent children who have been snatched from their mothers’ wombs.

◆ Find the text of the anonymous eighteenth- century hymn “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree” at www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/jesus_christ_the_apple _tree.htm. Reflect upon the wonderful imagery found in this beautiful hymn, and consider the parallels between the birth, life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today’s solemnity embraces both the Incarnation (Christ becom-ing flesh) and the Paschal Mystery (his dying and rising). You can hear the hymn performed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJVJM -LrhOU&feature=related.

Questions ◆ The Responsorial Psalm for the Mass during the Night urges us to sing a “new song” to the Lord. What new faith insights have come to you this Christmas?

◆ Consider using the concluding words from today’s Gospel (“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace to those on whom his favor rests”) in your prayer during the Christmas season. Join your voice to that of the heavenly hosts of angels.

◆ What will you do during Christmas Time to care for the marginalized? Like the angels in Luke’s story, how could you proclaim the Good News to the shepherds of our time?


December 25, 2018The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)


Activities ◆ This week we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. This title was assigned to Mary at the Council of Ephesus in 431. During the past few years we have commemo-rated the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. In the history of the Church, there have been twenty-one ecumenical councils. Take time this week to uncover three teachings that flowed from the Second Vatican Council.

◆ On January 1, the Church also observes a World Day of Prayer for Peace. Explore the work of Pax Christi USA and consider joining them as an advocate for peace in our world. Take upon your lips this week the words of Pope Paul VI, “If you want peace, work for justice.”

◆ Consider finding some simple gifts this week that you can share with an elderly or home-bound person in your community. They can take the form of a pot of soup or some Christmas cookies.

Questions ◆ Hannah and Elkanah were the parents of Samuel. How far back in your ancestry can you trace those who have given you life?

◆ In what places in your life do you find the Lord dwelling in you?

◆ In what ways does the Holy Family stand as a model for you? Do you rejoice in the fact that God is with you?

◆ Have you ever made the connection between Jesus’ teaching in the Temple for three days and the time between his death and Resurrection? Can you think of other stories in Scripture that speak of three days? How are you growing in wisdom, age, and grace?


December 30, 2018Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph


Activities ◆ January 6 is the twelfth day of Christmas, and the traditional day the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany. In the liturgy, we have always celebrated three epiphanies (or appearances, manifestations) on this day: the visit of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan, and the wedding feast at Cana. Seek out the manifestations of God in your life this week.

◆ Music is a way in which we pray and, like the other arts, is a way to make God manifest. How could you seek out epiphanies in music, art, or dance that might touch your life during this or another Christmas Time?

◆ Next Sunday, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, is the last day of the Christmas season. How can you continue to bring the joy of Christmas to people in your life?

Questions ◆ How does Christ’s light shine within you, and in what ways can you let your light shine out to others?

◆ How are you seeking after Christ, who is the source of all truth and life? How do we, as individuals and as a community, try to break open the mystery of God’s plan and teach this to our children? How well are we doing this?

◆ Today’s Gospel describes the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. At the dawn of Christmas Day, the Gospel tells of the visit of the shepherds. At what times have you come before the Lord as a shepherd? At what times have you come as a king?


January 6, 2019The Epiphany of the Lord


Activities ◆ Each time we make the Sign of the Cross, we renew our Baptism. As we touch forehead, chest, and shoulders, we are proclaiming the words by which we were initiated into the Body of Christ. Reflect on the way you make the Sign of the Cross: is it deliberate? Or does it look like you’re swatting flies? Teach your children to deliberately make the Sign of the Cross and trace it on their foreheads each day to remind them of their entrance into the Paschal Mystery of Christ.

◆ As you go through your week, reflect on the ways in which you have been transformed by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Try praying these words each day: “Come, Holy Spirit. Renew the face of the earth, and we shall be saved.”

◆ This week marks the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., minister and civil rights activist. Part of Dr. King’s preaching style was to quote spirituals and gospel songs. On the night before he died, he quoted these words from a spiritual: “Free at last, free at last, I thank God I’m free at last.” Look for the texts of spirituals and gospel songs, and use them to expand your ongoing conversation with God. (This is a helpful site: www.negrospirituals.com/search.htm.)

Questions ◆ In what ways are we crying out, like the voice in the First Reading, to prepare the way of the Lord? What do we do when we find ourselves in the desert?

◆ The last stanza of today’s Responsorial Psalm describes God sending forth his Spirit to renew the face of the earth. What are some concrete ways that we can renew the Spirit of God in our lives?

◆ In what ways do you see the Spirit descending upon us, our community, and the Church? What does it mean to say that the Spirit is the active, transforming agent in the liturgy and in our lives?


January 13, 2019Feast of the Baptism of the Lord


Activities ◆ On January 25 we celebrate the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle, which concludes the week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Take time this week to pray for the unity of all Christians so that all may be one.

◆ Jesus performed his first sign at Cana — revealing who he is. Examine the ways in which you reveal yourself to others, and reflect on the “aha” moments that you experience on the pilgrim way.

◆ The three jars of water-made-wine remind us of the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist. Do you know anyone preparing to receive these sacraments of initiation this Easter? Pray for them and give thanks for the gift of the Eucharist we receive regularly that gives us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet to come.

Questions ◆ God’s naming and creating are, in a very real sense, the same thing. Isaiah proclaims that Jerusalem shall be called by a new name: my “delight” and “espoused.” In what way does renaming a person allow that person to establish a new mission or create a new personality?

◆ What do you think Paul means when he says in the Second Reading that spiritual gifts come from the same Spirit, who produces all of them in everyone? And yet the Spirit is distributed individually to each person for a particular benefit. What spiritual gift have you discovered in yourself?

◆ The wedding feast at Cana, the baptism of the Lord, and the visit of the magi are all epiphanies — manifestations or appearances of God. In addition to the changing of water into wine, what other signs or miracles of Jesus come to your mind?


January 20, 2019Second Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ On January 28 we celebrate the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the doctors of the Church, and acclaimed as one of the greatest theologians of the Middle Ages. He contributed three hymns and the sequences for the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). Find some of those texts here: www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/a/q/u/aquinas_t.htm and use them to guide your prayer and reflection.

◆ Imagine that you are in the synagogue in Nazareth as Jesus is proclaiming the reading from the prophet Isaiah—the scene described in today’s Gospel. Close your eyes and think how the Lord might have looked, how his voice sounded, and what it was like to experience the silence when he finished and the eyes of everyone were looking intently at him. Journal about this exercise and think of it the next time you hear the Gospel proclaimed at Sunday Mass, for it is truly Christ who speaks when the Gospel is proclaimed.

◆ Use today’s Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15) as a prayer during the week and try memorizing the refrain so that you can repeat it and meditate on it daily: “Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.”

Questions ◆ Try to imagine the assembly at your church in the scene described in the First Reading: men, women, and children gathered together, watch-ing as the scroll is unrolled, answering “Amen, amen,” and then weeping as the words are proclaimed. In what ways does your parish help people to love and understand the Word of God?

◆ In a church, in a household, in a community, many gifts are needed. When have you experi-enced a group whose members appreciated each other’s gifts and functioned in the harmonious way Paul describes? How could Paul’s explana-tion help?

◆ When you listen to the proclamation of the Gospel, what helps you to listen attentively and actively? What helps you hear God’s voice in the proclamation?


January 27, 2019Third Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities: ◆ How do you respond to the rudeness or even threats of others? Do you respond with the tongue of angels, or that of the Devil? With hopelessness or trust in God’s presence? Write in your journal or talk with a friend about strategies that could help you respond as Christ would want you to. Think of a time you didn’t meet that mark and of another time when you did. Pray for the inspiration of the Spirit to react well in those situations, perhaps using today’s Responsorial Psalm.

◆ In today’s Gospel, Jesus mentions “the many widows in Israel.” Widows were among the poor and vulnerable in ancient Israel, because they often had no one to care for them. Although not so impoverished now as then, they still face loneliness. Consider ways in which you can be present to widows or widow-ers in your own community. Pray for the spouse they have lost and include them in community and household activities.

◆ In many parishes, throats will be blessed today as the Church calls on the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr. Pray for those who are suffering from any diseases of the throat. Educate yourself about ways you might communicate with those who cannot speak.

Questions ◆ In the First Reading we hear God calling Jeremiah to be a prophet—obviously a chal-lenging job. But notice how God promises to strengthen Jeremiah for his work. When have you felt God strengthening you to face a tough situation?

◆ Today we hear the beloved passage from 1 Corinthians that speaks of love. Have you ever been a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal that has kept you from God’s love, a love that is always patient and kind?

◆ Have you ever been surprised by a story or teaching you heard during the proclamation of God’s Word? In today’s Gospel, we hear of shockingly negative reactions to Jesus after his proclamation in the synagogue. In a sense, he begins his journey to Jerusalem, a path of suffering, and nothing will hold him back. As we journey through the year of Luke’s account of the Gospel, how can we be fully present to this story?


February 3, 2019Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ February 11 is celebrated as the optional Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick. Keep in prayer this week all who are suffering from chronic illnesses.

◆ Consider the ways in which you may be responding to the Lord’s call in your life. God is always taking the initiative, but are you recognizing the call? Are you prepared to say “yes,” and prepared to make the “yes” whole-hearted? A good way to prepare yourself to recognize and respond to God’s many initia-tives in your life might be to pray today’s Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 138:1–2, 2–3, 4–5, 7–8, refrain 1c). Starting from an attitude of thanksgiving heightens your awareness to God’s presence.

◆ Thinking of Simon Peter, who left his work as a fisherman to follow Christ, pray this week for all who make their living from the waters of the oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers of the world. Pray for an end to devastating attacks on ecosystems that provide nourishment and a just livelihood for those who live off the bounty of the water.

Questions ◆ In today’s First Reading we hear that God sends a vision to Isaiah in which he hears the call, “Whom shall I send?” When have we heard such a call and responded with, “Here I am; send me”? How could we pray for and encourage vocations to the priesthood and to other ways of doing God’s work?

◆ Paul considers himself to be the least of the Apostles because he persecuted the Church. Yet he experienced a radical conversion and became one of the strongest Apostles. How can you be an agent for conversion—your own or someone else’s? Have you ever considered visiting someone who is incarcerated, simply to be the charitable presence of Christ for them? In such simple, supportive acts are the seeds of conversion.

◆ Have you ever found yourself casting out your net and bringing in nothing? When this has happened, in what ways have you asked for your net to be filled? When we are sent from the liturgy, we are being sent on a mission to cast out our nets and bring others to the Lord. What are some of the ways in which you could answer this Gospel call?


February 10, 2019Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 17, 2019Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Questions ◆ The First Reading tells of a person who is without fear and without distress because of the individual’s hope in the Lord. Who do you know who has such hope? How has that person influenced you?

◆ The Responsorial Psalm sings that those who hope in the Lord are blessed. How has your hope in Christ transformed a situation?

◆ Those whom Jesus calls “blessed” are poor, hungry, weeping, and hated. Why would a person desire to be part of that group?

Activities ◆ All of the readings today reference hope. Consider how hope in Christ has affected your life. Is there someone who would welcome hearing your story of hope?

◆ February 22 is the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle. The word chair represents author-ity—in this case, the pastoral authority of the pope. Read about Peter’s encounter with Cornelius in Acts 10, and explore how Peter acted as a shepherd.

◆ Read the Beatitudes in Luke 6:20–26. Do you know someone who is excluded and insulted because of standing up for what is right? Decide on a way to support that person. Perhaps you could write a letter stating the impression the person has made on you.

Adult Faith–Sharing Groups

At Home with the Word® 2019 © 2018, Liturgy Training Publications. 800-933-1800. Written by Mary G. Fox. Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner.


Activities ◆ Is there someone who needs your compassion? Invite that person for a cup of coffee.

◆ Seek to take to heart the Lord’s admonition “pray for those who mistreat you.” Make part of your daily prayer saying an Our Father for someone with whom you have difficulty.

◆ Visiting the imprisoned is a corporal work of mercy. Do you know someone who is home-bound who would enjoy a visitor? If the person is a parishioner, bring the parish bulletin. If the person lives far away, send a letter.

Questions ◆ David spared Saul because he was one of God’s anointed. Have you ever acted mercifully because you realized the person had dignity as a child of God?

◆ In the Responsorial Psalm, we pray, “Not according to our sins does he deal with us.” Can you disregard the wrong a person has done?

◆ Jesus says in today’s Gospel, “For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” Who needs your love that you find difficult to love?


February 24, 2019Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ At the end of the day, examine your speech. What have your words revealed about you?

◆ What gift from God do you take for granted? Thank God for the presence of that in your life.

◆ Lent begins on Wednesday. Spend some time alone thinking about what practice you can take up that will help you grow spiritually.

Questions ◆ Who do you know whose speech displays their goodness and love for others?

◆ How have you made gratitude to God a part of your life?

◆ How would you describe the fruit by which you are known?


March 3, 2019Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Take time this week to make a list of the things that tempt you—things that weaken or block your relationship with God or neighbor. With a friend or in your journal, brainstorm ways you might overcome your temptations.

◆ Our God is compassionate, merciful, and forgiving. During Lent especially, talk to him often about your struggles to do his will and ask his help with temptations and shortcom-ings. Plan to avail yourself of the Sacrament of Penance, and be prepared to experience the loving embrace of God.

◆ In today’s Gospel, Jesus resists the temptation to turn stone into bread, even though he has been fasting. Seek out a soup kitchen or agency that provides bread for the hungry and the homeless. Commit to serving this agency once a month.

Questions ◆ In today’s First Reading, Moses gathers the people to thank God for all the “signs and wonders” he has worked for them over the past forty years. What are the signs and wonders that God is working in your life? In what way is your story like the story of our Jewish ancestors?

◆ How can the words of today’s Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 91) help us in resisting evil and temptation? Have you ever considered how angels might be guarding you?

◆ When we are tempted, where can we find strength to resist? What clues does today’s Gospel offer? In the midst of these struggles, how can we be bread for others?


March 10, 2019First Sunday of Lent


Activities ◆ Both Abraham and the Apostles were fright-ened by their encounter with God. Imagine meeting the Lord. What might be unsettling about it? Now reflect on today’s Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 27:1, 7–8, 8–9, 13–14).

◆ The Transfiguration story gives us a glimpse into eternal life. Take time this week to reflect on the words of the Creed: “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”

◆ In the Second Reading, Paul warns against those whose “minds are occupied with earthly things.” Especially during Lent, we try to occupy our minds with spiritual things. It’s a good time to do some spiritual reading. Pick out a book that will lift your faith and make that book your Lenten reading.

Questions ◆ What does it mean to you to enter into a covenant with another person? In what ways do you feel you are surrendering and giving yourself to God’s will as Abraham did? How does worship lead us to depend upon God alone?

◆ How do we Christians look upon things of this world in light of our destiny as citizens of heaven? What could it mean when the Scripture says Christ will make our bodies according to the pattern of his glorified body?

◆ Why do you think the disciples fell asleep on this holy mountain and also in the garden at Gethsemane before Jesus was handed over? What are some things we can do to stay awake so that we will glimpse the glory of God?


March 17, 2019Second Sunday of Lent


Activities ◆ March 25 is the Annunciation of the Lord. As part of your prayer this week, read Luke 1:26–38 and meditate on Mary’s words, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

◆ Water is one of the principal symbols of the season of Lent. Give thanks for the baptismal water that was your own entrance into the life of Christ. This Lent consider how you might lead others to Baptism. How can you make yourself available to seekers and invite them to your parish so that they will be led to these saving, refreshing, and life-giving waters?

◆ Pray this week and throughout the season of Lent for those preparing to celebrate the Easter sacraments: the elect, catechumens, and candi-dates in our community and throughout the entire Church. Learn the name of one of those who will celebrate the sacraments of initiation or come into the full communion of the Catholic Church, and prepare a card to present to him or her at the great Easter Vigil.

Questions ◆ What meaning do you take from God’s name “I am who am,” and what do you think it means when Moses tells the Israelites that “I am” sent me to you?

◆ In what ways are you trying to be like the description of God in today’s Responsorial Psalm: merciful, slow to anger, and abiding in kindness? In what ways could you try to pardon others as the Lord pardons us?

◆ How do you prepare yourself to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance? Do you use an examination of conscience? Do you do a review at the end of each day? Do you rely on the promptings of the Spirit to tell you where you need forgiveness?


March 24, 2019Third Sunday of Lent


Activities ◆ On the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sundays of Lent the readings from Year A are intended to be proclaimed whenever the elect are present in the assembly. (The elect are those people preparing for initiation at the Easter Vigil.) The readings offer rich symbolism and insights about Baptism. Whenever we were baptized, as an infant, young person, or adult, we are always realizing more about how our Baptism continues to work in our lives. Reread the Gospel, then talk with a friend or write in your journal about the meaning of water in this story. How does it refresh your awareness of the power of your Baptism this year?

◆ The refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm says, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Memorize this refrain and repeat it many times over the course of the week. At the end of the week, consider whether this practice helped you be more alert to God’s presence in your life and to your awareness of his will for you.

◆ Collect a few friends or family members to read the Gospel aloud in parts. You’ll need someone to read the part of the narrator, someone to read the part of Jesus, and someone for the woman, the disciples, and the townspeople. You may want to do this several times, encouraging each person to try different emphases in expression, and then talking together about how the different tones of voice influence your sense of the story. What new insights emerge?

Questions ◆ In today’s First Reading, do you identify more with the thirsty people, with Moses, or with God? How effective do you think this “teach-able moment” was for the people?

◆ “God proves his love for us,” says St. Paul in the Second Reading. Considering both the First and the Second Reading, why do you think we humans need so much proof of God’s love?

◆ What “living water” does the Samaritan woman receive in this story? Imagine yourself in this privileged conversation with the Lord. What “living water” does the story offer you?


March 24, 2019Third Sunday of Lent, A


Activities ◆ Take some time this week to reflect on old things in your life that have passed away. Rejoice that being one in Christ provides us with the opportunity to let go of the old and embrace the new.

◆ God is reconciling us to himself through Christ. Explore service opportunities in which you can become an ambassador for Christ, share in his ministry of reconciliation, and reach out to embrace all the broken members of our society and our world.

◆ If you are at odds with any family members or friends, pledge to take a step toward recon-ciliation this Lent. Then, like the prodigal son in today’s Gospel, embrace forgiveness and celebrate this gift.

Questions ◆ Why was the celebration of the first Passover in the Promised Land so significant to the people? How are Passover and the Promised Land important to us as Christians?

◆ In what ways do we believe that the Lord hears us when we call out, as in the last stanza of today’s Responsorial Psalm? How are we fed by the table of God’s Word and Eucharist?

◆ What does St. Paul mean when he says that “the old things have passed away” and “new things have come”? In what ways are we allow-ing God to appeal to others through us? How does our communal renewal and Christian response through our reconciliation with Christ lead us to make a difference in this world?

◆ With today’s Gospel in mind, we recognize that in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation the Father receives the repentant children who come back to him. How do we receive those from whom we are estranged? What could we do this Lent to invite those who have left the house of the Church, to lead them back?


March 31, 2019Fourth Sunday of Lent


Activities ◆ Think of a person you feel you know quite well whose appearance often doesn’t accurately express his or her true nature. Write in your journal or talk with a friend about your first impressions of the person and how you came to know the person better—how you began to “look into the heart.” How does this Scripture story along with that experience influence the way you experience people?

◆ Shining the light of Christ’s teachings into the dark places of our souls can be daunting, but it helps us interpret our experiences and grow closer to God. Many people engage the help of a spiritual director for this ongoing work. Spend a little time learning about spiritual direction. One starting point is Ignatian spirituality—a process developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuits: www.ignatianspirituality.com/making-good -decisions/spiritual-direction. You can also talk to your parish staff or friends who have spiritual directors.

◆ Read through today’s Gospel with pen and paper in hand, listing all the times that blindness/darkness and sight/light occur in the story. What does Jesus enable the man to see when his eyes are opened? What do the Pharisees fail to see even though they are not physically blind? Where do you fit into this story?

Questions ◆ When have you felt that a choice was clear, as did Samuel in today’s First Reading, only to realize that God was leading you to a different conclusion? What does it take to stay open to God’s will even when it seems counter to your own judgment?

◆ Considering the Second Reading, are you ready to accept the challenges the Scriptures bring when they unmask the works of darkness? What is it like to set aside darkness so that you can walk as a child of the light?

◆ In what ways have your eyes been opened? What lessons do you draw from the sign performed by Jesus in today’s Gospel?


March 31, 2019Fourth Sunday of Lent, A


Activities ◆ Consider when you have judged a person, and say a prayer that God leads you to be open and forgiving to others.

◆ Pray this week for all those caught up in the vicious cycle of sex trafficking and slavery. Support programs and agencies that work to rescue those who are trapped in this way of life so that their dignity may be restored.

◆ As you look at your personal calendar, look ahead and make sure you have committed to being present for the celebration of the Paschal Triduum next week: Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday, the Passion of the Lord on Friday, and the Easter Vigil on Saturday. Continue to pray for all who will be receiving the sacraments of initiation.

Questions ◆ In the First Reading, God says, “I am doing something new!” Where do you find promise, liberation, and new freedom? In what ways are you doing something new or providing a drink for those thirsting for the face of God?

◆ The refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm says, “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” Do we sometimes fail to recog-nize what God has done for us? How can we stay alert to these things and be ready to express our joy?

◆ St. Paul says that he depends on faith and on sharing in Christ’s sufferings to know him and the power of his Resurrection. How have you grown closer to Christ and come to understand his Resurrection through your own suffering?


April 7, 2019Fifth Sunday of Lent


Activities ◆ At this moment in your life, who do you know who is truly “in the depths”? Use today’s Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 130) to pray for that person or persons this week.

◆ Talk with a friend or write in your journal about your reactions to today’s Gospel. With which character do you most identify? Whose questions or needs express your own at this moment? When have you most needed to hear Christ’s voice calling you to “come out” of your tomb?

◆ Next Sunday will mark the beginning of Holy Week—the holiest time of the year. Look ahead at your calendar and begin making arrangements to treat that week as a retreat. Clear away as many activities and appointments as possible. Plan to attend the Triduum services on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. If possible, arrange to have time away from work on Good Friday so that you can fully experience these mysteries.

Questions ◆ Recall a time when you felt spiritless and deadened—as if you were in a grave. How would today’s First Reading speak to you? How does it give you hope for future times?

◆ How aware are you of the “Spirit dwelling in you”? How could you become more aware?

◆ Today’s Gospel describes Jesus showing some profound emotions, including being perturbed and weeping. In what ways can you take solace from Jesus when you are angry or troubled or when you find yourself crying out in despair?


April 7, 2019Fifth Sunday of Lent, A


Activities ◆ This week, spend some time thinking about people who, like Christ on the Cross, are suffering the most desperate situations— torture, helplessness, and humiliation. On their behalf, in their voice, pray today’s Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 22).

◆ Place the blessed palms that you receive at today’s Mass on a crucifix in your home. If you do not have a crucifix, consider acquiring one, and put it in a prominent place.

◆ The disciples who were gathered in the garden with Jesus fell asleep, and he chided them for this. Consider spending some time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of Repose following the Holy Thursday liturgy. Will you stay awake and give one hour to our Lord?

Questions ◆ At Mass today we carry palms, remembering the ancient custom enacted in Jerusalem as the people laid down palms on the road to acclaim Jesus as the prophet from Nazareth. But in our hearts, what are we laying down to honor him?

◆ In what ways do we witness the sufferings of Jesus? How do his sufferings echo in our own lives? During moments of humiliation, how are we looking to the Lord God, who is our help?

◆ Do you ever feel as if you are abandoned by God? Do you cry out in lament when you find yourself in the midst of loneliness or despair? What words could you use?


April 14, 2019Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord


Activities ◆ In several cultures, a special blessing is prayed over the Easter foods that will be used at today’s dinner. A prayer of blessing can be found in Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Consider purchasing a copy of this book for your family, and use the prayers and blessings found in it during the year.

◆ Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, and John all reacted differently to the news of the Resurrection. Reflect on your response to the Resurrection and ask each member of your household to do the same as you sit down for Easter dinner.

◆ The Easter liturgy concluded with the solemn dismissal, “Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia!” Sing this phrase at home and throughout the day as you keep the octave of Easter.

Questions ◆ In today’s First Reading, Peter succinctly tells the story of Jesus to a group of Gentiles (non-Jews, who have not inherited the stories and traditions of the Jews). How do you think the story of Jesus fits into the larger story of all of God’s previous efforts to save his people?

◆ How would you interpret this line in the Second Reading: “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God”? How might this relate to our Baptism?

◆ What different behaviors might your baptismal promises impose on you? How might you live out your baptismal call during the next fifty days?


April 21, 2019Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord


Activities ◆ The Second Sunday of Easter is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. Take the time today and throughout the week to extend mercy and forgiveness to those you meet—either verbally or quietly in your heart. Reflect on the ways in which Christ’s mercy is working in your life.

◆ Many signs and wonders were being done by the Apostles after the Resurrection of Jesus. Signs and wonders continue in our own day. They might not be dramatic events that draw crowds, but in hundreds of little ways, disciples of our time make God present for those around them. Describe some of these in your journal and give praise and thanks to God for the power of the Resurrection.

◆ At times, as we walk the pilgrim journey, we experience doubt, as did Thomas in today’s Gospel. Reflect with a friend or write in your journal about the times you have experienced doubt or a need for more assurance. In spite of Christ’s admonition about seeing and believing, he is solicitous in providing the “evidence” Thomas needs. In what ways does Christ minister to your doubts — directly or indirectly? Rejoice, using the words, “My Lord and my God!”

Questions ◆ In what ways are you, like the psalmist in today’s Responsorial Psalm, giving thanks to the Lord for his everlasting love? How will you express God’s mercy and love to those you meet this week?

◆ What parts of John’s vision (in the Second Reading) do you find comforting? What do you find confusing? What do we learn about Christ from this vision?

◆ In today’s Gospel, how many times does Jesus offer peace to the disciples? What do you think he means when he says it? What is this peace that he offers? What do you mean when you offer people the Sign of Peace during Mass?


April 28, 2019Second Sunday of Easter (or Sunday of Divine Mercy)


Activities ◆ This week, conduct an informal survey among your friends, asking under what circumstances they would choose to obey God rather than humans and why. Are their responses similar to your thoughts on this subject? How have their perspectives influenced you?

◆ A beautiful hymn is found in today’s Second Reading from the Book of Revelation: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain . . . forever and ever.” Use this text this week as the basis for your prayer and join in the cosmic praise of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

◆ After reading this Gospel, read again the one proclaimed on Easter Sunday (John 20:1–9). Write in your journal or talk with a friend about the different ways Peter and the Beloved Disciple behave in these two readings. What does each of them have to teach us about being a disciple of Christ?

Questions ◆ Why is the power of Jesus Christ’s name so important? Where have you heard references to the Son’s name in the liturgy?

◆ When have you, in the midst of a crisis, cried out to the Lord to rescue you, as the psalmist in today’s Responsorial Psalm apparently did? How close to the psalm was your own experience?

◆ As often seems to happen in post-Resurrection encounters with Christ, the Apostles do not immediately recognize him. How might we be failing to recognize Christ in our daily lives? How could we become more aware of him?


May 5, 2019Third Sunday of Easter


Activities ◆ The Feast of St. Matthias will be celebrated on May 14. Read the account of Matthias being chosen as the replacement for Judas in Acts 1:15–26.

◆ As we hear in the Second Reading, Christ’s disciples are meant to be “a light to the Gentiles” and “an instrument of salvation.” How can we each take our part in spreading the light of Christ? Discern what gifts you have that could contribute to the mission. And as you’re discerning, the spiritual “This Little Light of Mine” would be an appropriate song to add to your prayer this week. Sing: “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!”

◆ Consider adding more silence to your prayer life. When we allow for silence in our lives and in our liturgies, we are opening the door to the Holy Spirit to be the active, transforming agent at work in liturgy and in the world. Listen to the voice of the Shepherd and follow after him.

Questions ◆ The first missionaries, Barnabas and Paul, worked to bring the joy of Christ to the com-munities they visited. What were some of the obstacles they encountered to bringing this joy? What kept them from being discouraged?

◆ Today’s Second Reading describes a multitude that includes “every nation, race, people, and tongue”—a very “catholic” (meaning inclusive) vision. What can we do to make this vision a reality in our own parishes? How can we make every person feel invited?

◆ Have you ever taken offense to being referred to as a “sheep” obediently following a “shepherd”? On the other hand, how might this image of sheep and shepherd be consoling?

◆ On what occasions have you heard the shep-herd’s voice? What was your response? What does the statement “The Father and I are one” mean to you?


May 12, 2019Fourth Sunday of Easter


Activities ◆ With a map of the Middle East (perhaps one is in your Bible), trace the journey Paul made in chapters 13 and 14 of Acts.

◆ Identify concrete ways that you and your household or community could give hope and encouragement to suffering people. Take heart in the words of today’s Second Reading, “Behold, I make all things new . . . .” Can you share this message with those who suffer?

◆ Take a moment out of each day this week to enjoy the flowers, bushes, and trees that are beginning to come into leaf. Give thanks and praise to God for the beauty that is found in all living things. Let all that has breath praise the Lord!

Questions ◆ In what ways could we make a connection between the work of Paul and Barnabas in the many towns mentioned in the First Reading and some of the ministries in our own parishes?

◆ What name do you use when you praise God? How do you relate to God as a King? (See the Responsorial Psalm.) What sort of King is God, according to the verses of Psalm 145?

◆ What are some of the images in today’s Second Reading that suggest the marriage between Christ and the Church? What comfort do you find in this passage?

◆ Two words permeate today’s Gospel: glory and love. In what ways do you give glory to God? How do you express the commandment to love one another? What individuals or groups do you find difficult to love?


May 19, 2019Fifth Sunday of Easter


Activities ◆ Whether you are making a major decision or just a simple choice, ask yourself how the Spirit enters into your deliberation. When you need to make a major decision, take time for prayer and reflection, and collaborate with a trusted family member or friend before you embrace the final outcome.

◆ The Acts of the Apostles and the letters of Paul are among those parts of Scripture that contain letters written to communicate with the grow-ing church in the Mediterranean world. Sit down this week and write a letter or card of appreciation to a person on your parish staff whose work you admire. In the age of email, texting, Twitter, and Skype, you can be sure the receiver on the other end will be grateful to receive your message in this form.

◆ The faith of the early Christians was strong, and they made decisions over the vexing problems of circumcision and marriage regula-tions. The Church today faces many challenges and obstacles. Take comfort this week in the experiences of the early Church, which is providing us with a model response for the problems of our day.

Questions ◆ Today’s First Reading recounts the questions the Church faced that led to the Council of Jerusalem. Can you identify some of these questions the early Church was grappling with? What questions do you have about the most recent Church council, the Second Vatican Council?

◆ The Second Reading gives us another colorful vision from the Book of Revelation—the holy city of Jerusalem. How many words in this description refer to light in some way?

◆ In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains that someone called “the Advocate,” the Holy Spirit, will soon be sent to “teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” How do you under-stand the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church? In what ways are you an advocate for others?


May 26, 2019 Sixth Sunday of Easter


Activities ◆ During the Easter season, many children and young people receive their First Communion. Pray for those in your community and in the Church who are preparing to receive the Lord in this sacrament. Send a note of support to the people in your community who are engaged in sacramental preparation and thank them for bringing the Good News of Jesus to the chil-dren of your community.

◆ During the week, take time to compare the two versions of the Ascension that Luke included in today’s readings: the first one at the end of Luke, which we read second today, and the second one at the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, which we read in the First Reading. How is the Apostles’ response different? How does Jesus’ parting message differ?

◆ What exactly is Christ’s position in heaven after his Ascension? Read the Second Reading from Hebrews and write a summary in your own words or discuss the reading with a friend. How does Christ’s position influence how we should approach him?

Questions ◆ Luke’s version of the Ascension story from Acts (the First Reading) explains that Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearances to the disciples lasted forty days. Where else in Scripture is the number forty used, and how does its use contrast with others? In what ways do we, like the disciples, serve as Christ’s witnesses in the world?

◆ In today’s Responsorial Psalm and its refrain, notice all the words that describe sound. What sorts of sounds and tone accompany God mounting his throne?

◆ Today’s Gospel is Luke’s other version of the Ascension story from the Gospel according to Luke. Although we might think that Christ’s departure would be painful, we hear that after he blesses them, parts from them, and is “taken up,” they return to Jerusalem “with great joy” and are constantly in the temple praising God. How have you been able to participate in that joy?


May 30 or June 2, 2019The Ascension of the Lord


Activities ◆ June 3 is the Memorial of Charles Lwanga and Companions, martyrs. Learn about this martyr from Uganda and consider when you have stood up for your faith.

◆ Examine the ways in which your understanding of the Eucharist is maturing. If you are finding a dry time in your life, locate a faith-sharing group or a spiritual companion to accompany you toward the Eucharist, which is the sacrament of our unity in Christ.

◆ Observing the divided Church on earth, may we turn toward the call of Jesus that all may be one. In recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, take time to read the Council’s document, the Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis redintegratio). Pray for Christ’s broken body as together we work for the unity of all Christians.

Questions ◆ Stephen preached the Good News to hostile hearers. In your living out of the Gospel, have you ever experienced hostility? What parallels do you find between the stoning of Stephen and the death of Jesus?

◆ What does it mean to live a virtuous life? Several key images appear in today’s Second Reading: “they who wash their robes,” “tree of life,” “root and offspring of David,” “morning star,” “Spirit and the bride,” “life-giving water.” How do these phrases speak to your hopes for eternal life?

◆ How could you help to advance Christ’s great desire (expressed in today’s Gospel) “that they may all be one”? Could you explore the possi-bility of praying with other Christians and being an advocate for unity in the Church?


June 2, 2019Seventh Sunday of Easter


Activities ◆ When you pray and talk with God, consider the language you use. Today’s Second Reading uses “Abba, Father!” a very intimate way of convers-ing with God, meaning “Daddy” or “Papa.” Do you tend to use formal names for God or more intimate ones? Start a list of names you might want to try in varying moods and circumstances.

◆ Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel that if we love him, we will keep his commandments. It’s always good to return to the Ten Commandments now and then and use them for your examination of conscience. The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, was sent by God to help us discern the law in relation to our own lives. Try using them together, along with prayer.

◆ In the liturgy this weekend, we hear a special piece of music just before the Alleluia—the Sequence Veni, Sancte Spiritus (Come, O Holy Spirit, Come). Find its poetic text in English here: www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/t/cthscome .htm. Reflect on the beautiful imagery that celebrates the role of the Holy Spirit in salva-tion history.

Questions ◆ Pentecost is a good time to reflect on how the Holy Spirit is working in your life. Can you picture yourself opening your heart to receive the Spirit as tongues of fire, as did the Virgin Mary and the Apostles when they were gath-ered in the upper room?

◆ Another image for the Holy Spirit is captured in the Hebrew word ruah—the breath of the Holy Spirit. It fills the cosmos, all creation, and all living things. How do you detect its work in your life? Imbued with the Holy Spirit, what should we do to renew the face of the earth?

◆ How do the various gifts, ministries, and works spoken of in today’s reading from 1 Corinthians serve to build up the Body of Christ?

◆ When we are sent from the liturgy on mission, it’s important to set off in an attitude of humil-ity, ready to empathize with our sisters and brothers. For example, how might we engage with the doubting Thomas?


June 9, 2019Pentecost Sunday


Activities ◆ Reflect on the last three lines of today’s First Reading in which wisdom is described as “playing on the surface of his earth.” Have you ever thought of God as playful? Talk with a friend or write in your journal about ways you see play as an element in God’s creation.

◆ Use Psalm 8 in your prayer this week and revel in the wonder of our God. In your imagination, join with the animals on the land, birds of the air, and fishes of the sea in this great hymn of praise. Also, be an advocate for an end to pollution of air, land, and sea.

◆ In books from the library or by searching the Internet, explore the way artists have represented the Most Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. What new insights do images offer?

Questions ◆ In today’s First Reading, the wisdom of God speaks to us. What do we learn about the origins of wisdom? Although the verses in today’s reading don’t include it, the Book of Proverbs personifies the wisdom of God as female. (At the beginning of chapter 8, we read “Does not Wisdom call, / and Understanding raise her voice?”) In today’s reading she explains that at creation she functioned as a “craftsman.” How do you understand this description and the relationship between God and wisdom?

◆ What do you think Paul means when he says, “we have been justified by faith”? What parts of this reading give you hope and comfort?

◆ In today’s Gospel, Jesus promises the disciples that the Spirit of truth will guide them. What are some of the ways the Spirit of truth is guiding the Church? In what ways do you think the Spirit is an active, transforming agent at work in the liturgy, the Church, and the world?


June 16, 2019The Most Holy Trinity


Activities ◆ On June 24, the Church celebrates the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The only other births that the Church observes are those of Mary and Christ. Consider how John the Baptist pointed to Christ and how you can do that in your life.

◆ Pray this week for Native Americans, the First Nations peoples, and remember Chief Seattle, who became a Catholic in 1830 and lived in a way that earned him respect from both the native peoples and the new settlers.

◆ Consider spending some time in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament this week. One focus of your prayer might be on communities without a resident priest where the Eucharist is celebrated only occasionally.

Questions ◆ Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. How might this celebra-tion be different from the way we focus on the Body and Blood of Christ every Sunday?

◆ What do you think is the significance of the priest Melchizedek in today’s First Reading? What might be the correlation between Christ’s priesthood and that of Melchizedek?

◆ What seems particularly significant to you in the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes? Can you identify some of the ritual gestures in today’s Gospel, in the Last Supper, and in the story of Christ at table in Emmaus?


June 23, 2019The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)


Activities ◆ Explore ways in which you might put your faith into action. Pray as a family—the domestic church—and enter into some activities that flow from your prayer.

◆ Catholics played a significant role in both American and Canadian history. Learn more about how Catholic individuals and the Church in general have influenced culture in North America. Through books in the library or through the Internet, you’ll find much to be proud of.

◆ Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr, whose memorial we celebrate on July 6, is the patron saint of abused children. Pray for the intercession of this caring sister and join with her prayer for an end to pain, violence, and the horror of the physical and sexual abuse of children.

Questions ◆ How does the reading from 1 Kings show that Elisha was truly the spiritual heir of Elijah? How are we listening for our call in the midst of busy daily tasks?

◆ How has the yoke of slavery (Second Reading) been lifted from our shoulders? What are some ways in which you are placing yourself at another’s service?

◆ In what ways are you accompanying Jesus on the journey to Jerusalem? What are some of the roads that you are traveling as you march toward the heavenly Jerusalem?


June 30, 2019Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Reflect on the words from today’s Gospel, “peace to this household.” Consider the motto of Benedictine hospitality, which says, “all are to be welcomed as Christ.” Greet all who cross the threshold of your home with the words, “peace,” “shalom,” “paz,” or “pax.”

◆ Take an imaginary trip to visit a friend in another town, taking no money, luggage, or shoes. Write in your journal about what this might be like and the effect it could have on your spiritual life.

◆ Pray this week for all domestic workers; those who clean hotel rooms, housekeepers, and janitorial personnel. Next time you stay in a motel or hotel, consider leaving a tip for the person who cleans your room.

Questions ◆ How do you recognize the motherly kindness of God in today’s First Reading? Can you identify some other stories in Scripture that reflect motherly images of God?

◆ In what ways are you embracing the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, as St. Paul does in the Second Reading? How are you accepting the gifts of peace and mercy as you embrace the Cross of Christ?

◆ After reading today’s Gospel, consider: who do you identify as your spiritual companion as you bear the Good News to all the nations? What role are you taking in encouraging others to share in the harvest and embrace the evangeliz-ing ministry of Jesus?


July 7, 2019 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ With a friend or within your household, read today’s Second Reading as a choral reading. Divide up the parts, alternating voices often, and read through it several times, experimenting with different intonations. See what insights emerge.

◆ Discover information about St. Kateri Tekakwitha, whose memorial is usually cele-brated on July 14. Pray for First Nations peoples of the United States and Canada who rejoice in their saint.

◆ Today’s Gospel asks the question, “who is my neighbor?” consider getting to know your neighbors. If you are out for a summer walk, stop for a moment, introduce yourself, and enter into a hospitable conversation.

◆ After hearing the story of the good Samaritan in today’s Gospel, support any charities that come to mind. Pray for those in the healthcare profession: doctors, nurses, aids, therapists, administrators, and pastoral care providers. See if you can be a good Samaritan for someone this week.

Questions ◆ How do Moses’ words spur you to conform your life to the law and the commandments? Do they indeed seem simple and near to you? If not, how could you bring them closer?

◆ In today’s beautiful poetic Second Reading, we learn many things about Christ Jesus. Was any of this new or surprising to you, causing you to revise your idea of Christ? How do you inter-pret “in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell”? What could that mean?

◆ The basic question in today’s Gospel is “who is my neighbor?” How do you answer this question? And who are some of the good Samaritans of our day? As you travel down the road of life, who are you encountering that is in need of your help?


July 14, 2019Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ On July 22 we celebrate the Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene, first witness to the Resurrection and called the “Apostle to the Apostles.” Pray for the women who had the bravery to stand at the Cross of Jesus and take courage from their example.

◆ Pray this week for all women in the Church who serve as teachers and witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

◆ Encourage your parish to invite a local woman theologian or spiritual leader to share some reflections on her faith journey.

Questions ◆ Abraham and Sarah model fine hospitality. In what ways do you offer hospitality to others? What subtle connections do you see between the formulas used in today’s reading and the rituals of the Mass?

◆ In what ways are we, like Paul, a minister of God? Are we doing our part to reconcile the world? How is it possible that not all Christians share in the enthusiasm of Paul and live the Christian life as vibrantly as he?

◆ Is there a place in our lives for the contrasting attitudes of activity on the one hand and contemplation on the other? Do you identify more with Martha or Mary in today’s Gospel, and why?


July 21, 2019Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time


July 28, 2019Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Questions ◆ What in the First Reading seems surprising to you about the way Abraham talks with God? What insights do you take from the reading about your own communication with God?

◆ In what ways do we disciples participate in the mystery of the Death and Resurrection of Christ? What does it mean to you to be entombed with Christ in order to rise with him?

◆ Does it seem surprising that the Apostles ask “Lord, teach us to pray”? What do you think seemed notable to them about the way Jesus was praying that they wanted to emulate? The disciples address God as “Abba” (Father); a name that is both familiar and respectful. What are some familiar and respectful names you give God?

Activities ◆ Read today’s Responsorial Psalm aloud. Write in your journal or talk to a trusted friend about how this prayer affects you, including any memories it might stir.

◆ Consider exploring the way of lectio divina and centering prayer by visiting www.center ingprayer.com/lectio_divina.html. Discover ways in which you can enter into a more intimate conversation with God so that your faith may be strengthened.

◆ Find a beautifully rendered copy of the Lord’s Prayer that you can frame and put it in a prominent place in your home.



Activities ◆ If you have been blessed with income greater than your basic needs, consider various charities to support so that your life will not be spent in vain.

◆ On August 6, we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. On this day in 1945, the first atomic bomb was used against people. The images of that day are painful and haunting. Pray for victims of wars, especially innocent civilian populations who have become frequent targets in today’s raging conflicts. May the divine power of Christ, revealed in the Transfiguration, touch and teach us so that such weapons will never be used again.

◆ When August 4 fallls on a day other than Sunday, the Memorial of St. John Vianney, patron saint of priests, is celebrated. Pray for your priests and bishops. Consider sending them a card, thanking them for their ministry of service in the local church.

Questions ◆ Do you think Quoheleth is saying that all human effort is fruitless? How would you explain his point?

◆ How exactly does one “put to death parts of you that are earthly” (in the Second Reading)? How are we to identify those parts in ourselves? And once identified, what are some effective strategies for getting rid of them?

◆ In today’s Gospel, Jesus steps back from the role of “judge and arbiter.” How would you describe the way he exercises his moral authority in this story and in your life?


August 4, 2019Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ On August 14, the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe, priest and martyr. Read about his life and his witness to Christian faith. Try to attend Mass on this day.

◆ Write in your journal or discuss with a friend any reflections about your own faith journey stimulated by the story of Abraham and Sarah recounted in the Second Reading.

◆ We have often heard the phrase “the family that prays together, stays together.” In fact, the family that prays together builds up the Church. Find a copy of Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, or Blessings and Prayers for Home and Family, published by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and thus build up the prayer life of the domestic church, your family.

Questions ◆ The First Reading asserts that the Israelites, suffering in slavery in Egypt, knew by faith that there would eventually be a Passover, a deliver-ance. This knowledge helped them wait with courage. How does our faith help us endure periods of suffering with courage?

◆ In the Second Reading, Paul recounts how our ancestors in faith, Abraham and Sarah, perse-vered in the face of dismal prospects because they trusted in God’s care for them. Can you name some of your personal ancestors in faith? What are their stories?

◆ How do you understand the conduct of a steward? Can you think of people who have been delegated a certain amount of responsibil-ity and have become intoxicated with authority? How could they return to faithful stewardship? And how do you understand the final message in the Gospel: “when much has been given . . . much will be required . . . more will be asked . . . to whom more has been entrusted.”


August 11, 2019Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ In a study Bible or Bible dictionary, read about the life of the prophet Jeremiah. What similari-ties do you see between the life of Jeremiah and the life of Jesus? Why might persecuted mis-sionaries identify with Jeremiah? In what ways are prophets signs of contradiction?

◆ The Memorial of the Queenship of Mary occurs on August 22, one week after the Church celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Consider how Mary is our model of discipleship.

◆ The readings today speak to us about the Christian skill of endurance, and today’s Responsorial Psalm is a prayer for difficult situations in which one has to endure. Even if you are not facing difficulties at the moment, pray this prayer each day this week as a way of developing the attitude you will need for those situations.

Questions ◆ Why do you think Jeremiah and Jesus encoun-tered so much opposition? Why do you think speaking for God is such gritty, hard, and dangerous work?

◆ Paul describes the people who are great models of faith in ancient times as “the cloud of wit-nesses.” Who are the great models of faith in your life?

◆ What do you think Jesus means by the state-ments, “I have come to set the earth on fire”, and “how I wish it were already blazing”? How does the image of fire figure in John the Baptist’s description of the Baptism Jesus will give (see the Gospel for January 12) and the description of Pentecost (in the First Reading on June 9)? In what sense was the Crucifixion a kind of baptism for the Lord? So what sort of fire is Jesus bringing?


August 18, 2019Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Pray this week for missionaries who travel to the “distant coastlands” of our day. Support the missionary activity of the Maryknoll priests, religious, and lay associates, who, since 1911, have primarily served the peoples of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Consider subscribing to Maryknoll magazine as a way to support this missionary action.

◆ Consider becoming involved in ministry to prisoners. Enter into the narrow gate of prison life and become a beacon of hope for those who are incarcerated. Pray for those who are on death row and the victims of their crimes.

◆ On August 27, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine. Look to Monica as an example of a faithful parent, even with a difficult child.

Questions ◆ In the First Reading we learn that God is sending people to proclaim his glory among the nations. Are we those people and to what coastlands and nations must we go? What do you think it means that the nations of the world are an offering borne to the “house of the Lord”?

◆ What are the fruits of the lesson, even though harsh and painful, that the author of the Letter to the Hebrews lays out to the community? Does this lesson help us or do we see it as a persecution?

◆ What do you think Luke meant when he posed the question, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Is it a question that we ask, too, about whether there is room for all or we should worry about earning a good place? What do you think Jesus meant by his response that we must enter by the “narrow gate”?


August 25, 2019Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Why might a wedding banquet be a perfect setting for Jesus’ parable about the nature of God’s kingdom? Talk with a friend or write in your journal about how well wedding banquets you have experienced express the sense of a loving and inclusive community.

◆ On September 3, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Gregory the Great, pope and doctor. During his pontificate, he began a major reform of the liturgy. Try listening to some Gregorian chant this week to aid in your prayer and reflection.

◆ This week we commemorate the civic holiday Labor Day. Be an advocate for fair labor practices, a supporter of just wages for all workers, and encourage those who hire migrant workers to uphold their dignity and provide them with safe working conditions. Pray for the unemployed and underemployed.

Questions ◆ What instruction and wisdom might you take from Sirach? Why do you think humility is considered a fundamental attitude of wisdom and a sure foundation for life?

◆ What do you make of the images in the second part of the reading from the Letter to the Hebrews? Is the author painting a picture of heaven? Of the liturgy? How do these images speak to you?

◆ Do we refrain from taking a higher place out of a show of humility, knowing perfectly well that someone will make us move higher? The human psyche being so cunning, how can we authentically enter into the “law of the kingdom” in which “the one who humbles himself will be exalted”?


September 1, 2019Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Using a study Bible, references from the library, or the Internet, find out more about the back-ground of today’s Second Reading. Learn about slavery in the first century after Christ and reflect on how Paul was dealing with the situation as he encountered it.

◆ Today’s Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 90, with the refrain, “In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.” Pray this beautiful psalm and then find the beloved hymn, “O God, our help in ages past” (www.hymnal.net/hymn.php /h/607) and reflect on its similar images of God as our stable home in the midst of our short, fragile lives.

◆ Realizing how unpredictable our time on earth is, live in appreciation of each moment and tell your spouse, children, grandparents, and other family members how much you love them. Call a friend with whom you have not communi-cated in some time and let them know of your appreciation for their friendship. Then be at peace, knowing that whatever happens, God loves and cares for us all.

Questions ◆ According to the First Reading from Wisdom, how are the workings of the mind of God beyond the capacity of our knowledge? How does our “earthen shelter” weigh down our minds? How well does this reading describe what it’s like to be a human being trying to draw closer to an infinite God?

◆ The Apostle Paul had harbored an escaped slave while he himself was in captivity. What would be your response if you received this touching letter from this old man who calls himself a prisoner for Christ Jesus? How persuasive is it? And how is it possible that after 2,000 years, various forms of slavery still burden us?

◆ What are the radical choices that you are accepting in order to be a disciple of Christ?


September 8, 2019Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ In all three readings today we see examples of God’s mercy and forgiveness. We see Paul taking responsibility for his past sins and praising God for his mercy in forgiving him. What honest assessments could we make about our own lives? Using Paul as a model of bold honesty, discern whether it is an appropriate time to seek the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

◆ In today’s Gospel, Jesus “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” What, then, is the appropriate way for a disciple of Jesus to emulate his example? Discern how you might be called to “welcome sinners.” Perhaps you will get involved with prison ministry and visit prisoners. Perhaps you will volunteer in a halfway house or treat-ment program. Pray for guidance and be alert for a direction.

◆ On September 20, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Sts. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, martyrs. St. Andrew Kim was the first native born priest in Korea. Find out more about him and others who died for their faith in Korea at www.franciscanmedia.org.

Questions ◆ What are the “molten calves” of our day that we hold onto as a symbol of wealth or power? How did Moses intercede for the Jewish people, and how do you intercede on behalf of those who show little or no fidelity to the covenant?

◆ According to St. Paul, is it possible for those who are blasphemers, persecutors, or arrogant to be pardoned by the grace of God?

◆ Why might the three parables in today’s Gospel be called the heart of the Gospel according to Luke? How might these three simple stories lead us to God’s magnanimous perspective: “we have to celebrate and rejoice!”? And how can we come to understand that we are not hired hands, but children of God?


September 15, 2019Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ September 21 is the Feast of St. Matthew, one of the Apostles and the supposed author of the Gospel account that bears his name. Learn more about this figure and try to attend Mass on that day.

◆ Contemplate stewardship. How do you share your time, treasure, and talent with your parish and your favorite charities. Pray about whether you could do more, using the refrain from today’s Responsorial Psalm: “Praise the Lord, who lifts up the poor.”

◆ This is the time of year when many farmers are harvesting their crops. Consider supporting local farmers by buying your produce at farmers’ markets and pray for those who work on the land.

Questions ◆ What might we say to a preacher of our time who, in front of the entire assembly, would challenge the hearers in the same way Amos does in today’s First Reading? When have you experienced a prophet raising a voice to denounce injustice and oppression? How did it strike you? Change you?

◆ What valuable recommendations for Christian prayer do you find in the Letter to Timothy?

◆ Today’s Gospel speaks about both honesty and prudence. How do you distinguish between the two? What lessons do you take from the reading?


September 22, 2019Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Today’s Responsorial Psalm (146) is full of images of God’s care for the powerless and of a faithful life. Use it for prayer during the week.

◆ On September 27 we celebrate the Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul, priest. He is the patron saint of works of charity. Learn more about the work of your local St. Vincent de Paul Society and offer your assistance where it is most needed.

◆ All Christian action is rooted in faith, hope, and love. In today’s world, so many have lost hope. Explore ways in which you can be hope for the hopeless. Find the lyrics to the song “We are Called” by David Haas (www.lyrics 007.com/David%20Haas%20Lyrics/We%20Are%20Called%20Lyrics.html), reflect on this strong text, and act with justice.

Questions ◆ In what ways would Amos’s message be a fair criticism of aspects of our present-day culture?

◆ Paul’s letter exhorts Timothy to live the Christian life faithfully and vigorously. What exactly does the Christian life look like “on the ground”? In what ways do Christians try to make the Lord present in the here and now? How is that life rooted in the mystery of Baptism?

◆ What details in today’s Gospel evoke pictures for you—pictures that emphasize the contrasts between the rich man and Lazarus? When have you involuntarily recoiled from a person who was disfigured or scarred and then regretted it? Who are the angels of our own day who are ministering to the hungry and poor in our midst?


September 29, 2019Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ On October 7, we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. How has praying the Rosary impacted your spiritual life? Consider adding the beautiful prayer the Angelus to your daily prayer patterns. (Find it at www.our catholicprayers.com/the-angelus.html.)

◆ Look for the beloved song “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman,” by Carey Landry. You can find numerous renditions performed on YouTube; lyrics can be found at www.mljmusic.com/Portals/0/Lyrics/Hail%20Mary%20Gentle%20Woman.pdf. Reflect on the text, and offer a prayer for all the women who are significant in your life.

◆ Today’s First Reading poses the sorrowful question, “How long, O Lord?” Is your prayer always one of praise and thanksgiving (such as today’s Responsorial Psalm [95]), or do you also avail yourself of the psalms of lament (such as Psalms 12, 44, 60, 74, 79, 80, 83, 85, 90, 94, 123, 126, and 129)?

Questions ◆ How many times have we cried out, “How long, O Lord? I cry for help, but you do not listen”? What words have you used to express yourself in dire circumstances? Why do you think God allows injustice to rain down between nations and peoples? How does Habakkuk instruct us on this?

◆ What evidence do you find in the Second Reading, from Paul’s Letter to Timothy, for the ritual gesture by which Paul commissioned Timothy? What did the gesture seem to do or mean, according to Paul? In what ways is the Holy Spirit stirring up the gifts you have received?

◆ How do you interpret the Lord’s response to the Apostles’ request for more faith? Is it the quantity of their faith that is the problem? If, in the parable about the servants, we think of the servants as disciples, what might this part of the reading be teaching us?


October 6, 2019Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Paul says, poignantly in the Second Reading, that he is suffering “even to the point of chains, like a criminal.” St. Paul is a crucial and inspir-ing figure in the development of the faith, and he wrote many of the Scripture passages we hear proclaimed during the liturgical year. Devote some time to learning about Paul and his writings. Try the introductory article in The Catholic Study Bible or a longer work such as Pope Benedict XVI’s 2009 book, Saint Paul, or the works on Paul by other Catholic Scripture scholars: Joseph Fitzmeyer, Michael Gorman, and Stanley B. Marrow. (Inquire for these names at your library, a bookstore, or search the Internet.)

◆ Ask a number of family members and friends about how gratitude had affected their lives. Collect these stories and reflect on the spiritual nourishment they offer.

◆ Pray this week for all those who work in the healthcare profession. Give thanks, like the Samaritan healed of leprosy, for these care-givers who provide a healing touch, a calming hand, and a gentle word to the sick and those suffering in mind, body, and spirit.

Questions ◆ Why do you think Elisha commanded Naaman to go down to the river Jordan and be plunged into the water seven times? How surprising is this pagan army commander’s response to Elisha? What is it teaching us?

◆ What do you know about King David and why do you think his connection to Christ is important?

◆ Is the calling out of the ten lepers, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” only a plea for help? What else might it express? When have you ever called out to the Lord in this way or wished you could?


October 13, 2019Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ The Church celebrates the optional Memorial of St. John Paul II on October 22. Look up his prayers at www.vatican.va.

◆ We learn in 2 Timothy 1:5 that Timothy owes his early formation to his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice. Give thanks for grand-mothers and mothers who nurture the faith of their children.

◆ If you have not already, could you make a commitment to be persistent in your prayer and Scripture reading? Try to start this week, deciding on a realistic amount of time (15 minutes? 30 minutes? More?) to devote to these central Christian practices. Our small, daily efforts will ensure that when the Son of Man comes, he will find faith on earth.

Questions ◆ In the First Reading, Moses prayed, with support from Aaron and Hur, while Joshua led the army to victory against the invaders. What lessons does this story offer us?

◆ From the vehemence of Paul’s charge to Timothy toward the end of the Second Reading, what might we conclude about the importance of the proclamation of Scripture in our faith life?

◆ Who are the modern-day judges who are unmoved when the vulnerable cry out, “Render a just decision for me against my adversary”? Why do you think it often takes so long to arrive at justice? What does all of this say about the need for persistence in seeking justice?


October 20, 2019Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ After reading today’s First Reading, pray Mary’s beautiful prayer, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55). What images and themes do the two passages share?

◆ Write in a journal or talk with a friend about today’s Second Reading. What clues does this reading give you about Paul’s personality and about the qualities of his faith?

◆ St. Andrew legal clinic in Portland, Oregon, provides free and low-cost legal assistance to low-income people and those who otherwise would not have access to legal representation. Ask some Catholic lawyers in your area to consider taking on more pro bono work on behalf of the poor.

Questions ◆ According to the First Reading from Sirach, what are the qualities that best enable a person to be heard by God?

◆ What connections can you make to the Paschal Mystery when you hear the closing words of today’s Letter to Timothy: “I am already being poured out like a libation”? Do Paul’s words, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” express the attitude of “mission accomplished” or “it is finished”?

◆ How would you name the Pharisee’s problem? How comfortable are we with the tax collector’s prayer? How do we wear the label “sinner”?


October 27, 2019Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Jesus says in the Gospel that he has come “to seek and to save what was lost.” That is our work also and one of the means by which we allow God to find the parts of us that are lost. So what sort of seeking and saving work is right for you? Pray for guidance, talk to a friend, or write in your journal, asking to be led to the situations that need you.

◆ Both the First Reading from Wisdom and today’s Responsorial Psalm (145) point to God’s love and care for creation. Read the First Reading reflectively and then pray the Responsorial Psalm from your heart. Join yourself to the great chorus of all God’s works thanking him.

◆ This is the Month of All Souls. It has been said that November is the time when the Church rehearses for death. Join your prayer to the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us, marked with the sign of faith—those named and unnamed.

Questions ◆ In today’s First Reading we hear, “[Y]our imperishable spirit is in all things! Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little.” How might this insight about God’s presence in everything and patience with all things change the way you view people and things around you?

◆ Paul says that he is praying for each in the community that God may “powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith.” Is there someone in your life for whom you would like to pray that prayer? How would it feel to pray it for yourself?

◆ In what ways do we find ourselves climbing a tree, like Zaccheus, so we can have a better view of Jesus? Who are the rich today who use their authority to extort people? Have we ever been guilty of such extortion?


November 3, 2019Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ On November 11, the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Martin of Tours. St. Martin took seriously Jesus’ admonition to care for the poor. Go through your home and gather clothing you no longer need to give to a thrift shop.

◆ In today’s Gospel, some Sadducees, who deny the resurrection of the dead, try to trip up Jesus. Take time this week to read paragraphs 988–1014 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and thus come to understand the tenet that we profess in the Creed each week: “I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”

◆ Many communities have a Catholic cemetery, and each (arch)diocese provides oversight for these cemeteries. Learn more about the Catholic cemetery in your area and consider supporting it.

Questions ◆ How does the story in the First Reading strike you? Is it too gruesome for your sensibilities? Is it edifying? What stories of modern-day martyrs do you find inspiring?

◆ From the Second Reading, what can you tell about Paul’s belief in the power of prayer? Who do we ask for prayers? How do we believe it will help us?

◆ What parts of today’s Responsorial Psalm echo the way Jesus describes the afterlife?


November 10, 2019Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ In what ways does your parish make itself a hospital for sinners and not a museum for saints? Talk with a fellow parishioner or write in your journal, brainstorming some ideas for inviting the poor into your buildings, giving them hope, and helping them fulfill it. (Out of such daydreams realities sometimes grow.) What role might you play in such a plan?

◆ November 18 is the optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles. Find a book at the library or do an Internet search for images of these two churches in Rome and make a vicarious visit. The website of St. Peter’s Basilica offers a virtual tour in photos: http://www.vatican.va/various /basiliche/san_pietro/vr_tour/index-en.html.

◆ This Sunday, pay attention to the refrain sung for the Responsorial Psalm: “The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.” The melody will probably come floating back to you during the week. Read the psalm from your Bible in the mornings and use this refrain as a sung prayer during the week.

Questions ◆ In what ways are we trying to rid ourselves of the qualities in us that would make us “stubble” so that we can bask in the “healing rays” of the “sun of justice”? How is the Lord, even now, coming to rule the earth with justice in our own time?

◆ From today’s Second Reading, what can you tell about the kind of teacher and leader Paul was? What seem to be his methods of spreading the Gospel?

◆ In today’s Gospel Jesus seizes the attention of his listeners and of us with his dramatic predictions of great conflicts and persecutions. For you, what is the key teaching or point of this Gospel?


November 17, 2019Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

At Home with the Word® 2016 © 2015, Liturgy Training Publications. 1-800-933-1800. Written by Michael R. Prendergast. Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Permission to publish granted by the Archdiocese of Chicago, on March 16, 2015.

Activities ◆ On November 22, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Cecelia, virgin and martyr, who has been honored in Rome since the fifth century, mentioned in the Eucharistic Prayer called the Roman Canon, and is the patroness of sacred music. Learn more about the work of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM), an organization that provides ongoing formation for both clergy and musicians (www.npm.org/).

◆ In your imagination, take a position at the foot of the Cross as a watcher. Let your “watching” be contemplation. One of the criminals hang-ing next to Jesus said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Find the ostinato refrain with these same words that comes from the Taizé community, in France (www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm3QC8vopO0). Add this simple chant to your daily prayer.

◆ Looking in art books or on the Internet, explore the various images of the glorious Cross found in Christian art and iconography. Find an image that speaks to you and use it for contemplation.

Questions ◆ It can be helpful to think of the Sunday read-ings as a triptych, with the chief panel being the Gospel and the First and Second Readings not quite on the same level but slightly turned toward it. Try moving from one panel to the other, back and forth. How does this illuminate the richness of the whole?

◆ As you study the beautiful hymn quoted in the Second Reading, the poetic meditation on all that Christ is, do you discover new insights about the Lord?

◆ Considering the scene painted in today’s Gospel, if you were hanging on a cross next to Jesus, what would you say to him? How do you understand the “good criminal’s” request, “Jesus, remember me”?


November 24, 2019Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

adult faith-sharing groups...have undergone martyrdom, for all involved in evangelization, and for...

Documents