christian initiation groups...at home with the word® 2019 © 2018, liturgy training publications....

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 ◆ We live in a society that values material things over what is truly important. Luke warns us to put away overindulgence and pray constantly. How is this prayer manifest in our lives?

◆ How is your faith journey leading you to an attitude of waiting for the Lord’s return and praying with vigilance? How are you coming to understand what it means to pray?

◆ Today’s First Reading proclaims, “The days are coming” when God “will fulfill the promise.” What sense do you have of a promise being fulfilled as you move closer to your initiation?

Activities ◆ Explore the richness of the Advent Scriptures with a short, inviting book by the late renowned Scripture scholar, Fr. Raymond E. Brown, A Coming Christ in Advent: Essays on the Gospel Narratives Preparing for the Birth of Jesus: Matthew 1 and Luke 1 (The Liturgical Press, 1988). Or consult the handy little book Keeping Advent and Christmastime (LTP, 1988) to learn about the Advent wreath. Place an Advent wreath in your home and pray around it during the season.

◆ Borrow a book from your parish or library, or search the Internet to discover the saints of Advent, including Nicholas, Lucy, Juan Diego, and Our Lady of Guadalupe. Incorporate some of the traditions associated with these saints in your home and share them with the members of your family.

◆ Find out why the Church waits to decorate for Christmas until the end of the Advent season. Embrace being countercultural in a world obsessed with twinkling lights.

Christian Initiation Groups


Activities ◆ Reflect on the text of two or three Advent hymns. (You will find them in the hymnal or music resource in the church.) What can you learn about the wisdom of Advent from these rich texts?

◆ If you don’t already know them, discover the Advent traditions of Mexico and the Philippines, using a book from the library or an Internet search. Plan to join in festivities around the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Las Posadas, and Simbang Gabi.

◆ Parishes usually provide opportunities to give service during Advent—contributing gifts for the needy, visiting the lonely, helping to host a meal for seniors, and so forth. Make a point of participating in one of these services.

Questions ◆ In what ways are you preparing yourself to follow after the Lord? What are the mountains and valleys that are obstacles in your road toward peace and justice?

◆ Why do you think Advent is seen as a season of hope? What words in today’s readings offer hope? What could you do this week to bring hope to someone who is feeling hopeless?

◆ Who is the John the Baptist in your life who calls you to repentance?


December 9, 2018Second Sunday of Advent


Activities ◆ With your sponsor, find out about the Filipino novena Simbang Gabi. If a Simbang Gabi celebration is close by, plan to attend.

◆ Consider attending a celebration of Advent Lessons and Carols. If you can’t find one near you, tune in to Advent Lessons and Carols broadcast on radio or television, or listen to a recording. Revel in the texts and carols of this joyful season!

◆ Discover the “O” antiphons, easily found in the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Pray these texts each day from the December 17 to 24.

Questions ◆ The psalmist urges us to “cry out with joy and gladness.” For what reason? When during your journey have you felt what the psalm describes?

◆ Today we hear, “The peace of God that sur-passes all understanding.” What could this “peace” mean? When you hear “the peace of the Lord be with you” and “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord,” what do they mean to you?


December 16, 2018Third Sunday of Advent


Activities ◆ Listen deeply to sections of Handel’s Messiah, especially those that are based on the texts of the Advent and Christmas seasons.

◆ If you are doing any shopping for Christmas this week, make sure you offer a kind word and a wide smile to clerks and store owners who often have to be away from their families for long hours during the days preceding Christmas.

◆ Volunteer to help the parish liturgical environ-ment committee decorate the church for Christmas. Ask someone to tell you the story behind the Christmas crèche that you will discover in the church.

Questions ◆ Today’s Gospel reminds us that visiting, spiritual conversation, and shared prayer is a wonderful support to the spiritual life. Spiritual compan-ions do much to encourage each other on the path. Who might you meet with this week?

◆ What is your understanding of the role of Mary in the Church? What questions do you still ponder about this woman of faith, hope, and love?

◆ Did someone invite you to come and see? Can you identify a Mary or an Elizabeth who has encouraged you to be filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit?


December 23, 2018Fourth Sunday of Advent


Activities ◆ If you feel moved to do so, write a Christmas card or letter to the members of your parish Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) team. Let them know how much you appreciate them as they accompany you on your faith journey.

◆ Do some research on your favorite Christmas carol. Be prepared to share the story of its origins and communicate its message with family and friends. Ask others to tell you the stories behind their favorite Christmas carols.

◆ On December 28, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Innocents — those children slaughtered by King Herod. Pray for all children who have been victimized.

Questions ◆ Today, we hear several names for the Child born in Bethlehem: “Wonder-Counselor,” “God-Hero,” “Prince of Peace.” What do these titles mean to you? If you could name God, what name would you give?

◆ You probably have noticed by now that the Catholic liturgy is filled with song. The psalm in today’s liturgy says, “Sing to the Lord a new song” and evokes an image of the entire earth singing to the Lord. When have you felt like you were part of a great, joyful chorus of voices singing to the Lord?

◆ Luke’s account of the Christmas story is differ-ent from Matthew’s. It contains many memo-rable, well-loved details. Notice especially the role of the angels and the shepherds. What could you do to announce the Christmas message, and what gifts will you bring to lay before the Newborn King?


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


Activities ◆ Discuss with your sponsor or a friend what it means to be a “holy family.” (Don’t forget that in today’s story of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, everything did not go according to plan!) Consider ways in which your family can grow in holiness.

◆ Check in on a neighbor in your community who may have recently lost a loved one or who is spending this Christmas season alone. Take that person some Christmas cookies or another treat as well as a listening heart.

◆ On January 1, join your prayers for peace with Mary. On this day we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and we observe the World Day of Peace.

Questions ◆ It’s interesting to realize that in today’s story, the child Jesus was teaching in the Temple for three days—the same time between his death and Resurrection. What might that mean? What other Scripture stories involve a period of three days?

◆ What have children or young people taught you about God? In what ways could you acknowledge their gift to you?

◆ In what ways are you growing in wisdom and love? Are you taking time to listen, and are you hanging on the words that Jesus is giving you? How is your relationship with God growing?


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


Activities ◆ Burn some incense in your home and pray that the Prince of Peace will continue to be mani-fested in your life.

◆ Plan to keep your Christmas decorations up through the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and be a witness to those in your neighborhood that you are observing the whole season.

◆ Recycle your Christmas tree next week with a group or organization that raises money for service projects.

Questions ◆ Today’s Responsorial Psalm asks God to endow the king with justice and the land with peace. In what ways are we justice and peace for others? As a family and a community, what do we do to pay homage to the King of Kings?

◆ The Scripture readings at Mass often refer to the city of Jerusalem. What does Jerusalem represent to you in today’s First Reading?

◆ In today’s Gospel, the Magi ask where to find “the newborn king of the Jews.” How do you think Herod understood the title “king”? In what way do you understand it? Ask a catechist to explain to you or look in a study Bible or dictionary of the Bible to find out more about the Magi. Explore also the significance of gold, incense, and myrrh.


January 6, 2019The Epiphany of the Lord


Activities ◆ Visit several other Catholic churches in your city or area, and pay close attention to the various shapes and sizes of baptismal fonts and pools that you discover. How does each one strike you? What does each suggest about the mystery that happens in it?

◆ Meet a family in your community who has recently had their child baptized. Ask them to pray for you as you continue to prepare to enter into the waters of Baptism and in turn pray for their children.

◆ This week, make today’s Responsorial Psalm part of your prayer. Linger over the beautiful images of creation and ponder God’s love for the world.

Questions ◆ In today’s First Reading a voice cries out, “Here is your God!” What is this God like who is announced in the reading? How would you describe his characteristics?

◆ In today’s Second Reading, what encourage-ment do you find that the grace of God can help you become a faithful disciple?

◆ Today’s feast can help everyone reflect on their Baptism, whether it happened in the past or is yet to be celebrated. Why do you think Jesus chose to be baptized? How are you preparing yourself to enter into the water?


January 13, 2019Feast of the Baptism of the Lord


Activities ◆ Observe some of the different ministries in the parish: liturgical, catechetical, and service. Take time to have a conversation with those involved in these various ministries and learn about the diversity of gifts in the Church.

◆ Join your community, local government, or organizations that provide advocacy for clean and safe water. Pray for an end to the pollution of rivers, lakes, streams, and oceans.

◆ On January 25 we celebrate the conversion of Paul the Apostle. Around this week every year, we observe a week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Through Paul’s preaching, many were led to Christ. Pray that all who follow Christ may find unity in the midst of diversity.

Questions ◆ The wedding feast at Cana, the baptism of the Lord, and the visit of the Magi are all epiphanies — manifestations or appearances of God. What epiphanies have you experienced in your life so far?

◆ Before the first miracle, the mother of Jesus says to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” What insight does this give into Mary’s role in our faith life? What are some of the titles of Mary that you have learned?

◆ In the Second Reading, Paul speaks of “gifts,” “forms of service,” or “workings.” What do you think he means? What is the purpose of these gifts, and how will you discover what gift you have been given?


January 20, 2019Second Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Discover some agencies in your community that reach out to the poor. Lend a hand to one of these groups, and try to spend a few hours each month in service to the people for whom you are meant to bring glad tidings.

◆ Support businesses and institutions that wel-come those of various abilities and disabilities to work side by side, and thus uphold the dignity of the human person.

◆ Spend some time this week praying today’s Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15). It may seem odd at first that “the law” could inspire such devotion, since we think of laws as dull reading. Try to put on some of this love of Scripture as you pray the verses, and ask God to lead you in your reading of his Word.

Questions ◆ What inspiration or instruction does the First Reading offer you about listening attentively to the proclamation of God’s Word on Sunday?

◆ In the Second Reading, Paul reminds us that “we were all baptized into one body,” the Body of Christ who is our head. How do you under-stand yourself as a member of the Body of Christ? In what ways can one member of the body damage or strengthen the vitality of the whole body?

◆ In today’s Gospel, Jesus announces glad tidings to the poor. How are you living into the role of disciple? In what ways are you learning from Jesus to read Scripture?


January 27, 2019Third Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ God tells Jeremiah to “gird your loins”— an expression that has become common for preparing to face a hard challenge. Try using today’s Responsorial Psalm as a way of strengthening yourself for whatever chal-lenges may come during the week.

◆ Taking a cue from today’s Second Reading about love, consider how you could put love into action more effectively in your family. Perhaps make time this week to tell them how much you love them and appreciate their presence in your life. Resolve to show this love for them through acts of kindness and support.

◆ On February 3, the Church traditionally has blessed throats while calling 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 ◆ Jeremiah writes, “The word of the Lord came to me.” How has the Word of the Lord come to you during your life? When have you been called to a new path?

◆ Paul speaks of the virtues of faith, hope, and love and says the greatest of these is love. How do you understand these virtues, and why do you think that love is the greatest? According to the reading, what more is it than a pleasant feeling toward someone?

◆ What do you think Jesus means when he declares, “Today, this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing”? How do you explain the sudden turn in the reactions that people have?


February 3, 2019Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ This week we celebrate the optional Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. Pray, in speech or song, the text of the beloved hymn “Immaculate Mary.” Find a book or website that contains all the verses and learn more about Mary’s role in salvation history. (Here is one site: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcs6WPjZi0k.)

◆ World Day of the Sick also is celebrated on February 11. Pray for people with chronic illnesses.

◆ Pray for those who are preparing for ministry to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, and lay ecclesial ministry. Ask your sponsor or catechist to introduce you to someone preparing, and ask them to share their story with you.

Questions ◆ In today’s Scriptures, God calls a prophet, several disciples, and all of us to participate in the fullness of life. When did you first hear God’s call? In what ways is God continuing to call you?

◆ What roles do angels play in today’s First Reading and Responsorial Psalm? What is your understanding of angels? Have you heard of guardian angels?

◆ The disciples left their trade and followed after Jesus. How do you understand your vocation and mission as you make your faith journey?


February 10, 2019Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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 ◆ Each day pray from the Responsorial Psalm “Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.”

◆ On February 22, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle. Peter was the first pope. Read a magazine or newspaper article on the present pope and consider how that person acts as a shepherd to the People of God.

◆ Read the Beatitudes from Luke 6:20–26. Consider how depending on God makes a difference in a person’s life.

Questions ◆ As you have grown closer to God, how has that changed where you place your hope?

◆ Why does Christ’s being raised from the dead make a difference in our lives?

◆ The second Beatitude is “Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied.” There are many ways to be hungry. The saints speak of hungering for God. How have you hungered for God? Do you think that you ever will be satisfied?


February 17, 2019Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ In the Responsorial Psalm, we sing “The Lord is kind and merciful.” Think about the people who have shown you mercy. Say a prayer thanking God for those people in your life.

◆ At Mass, we pray, “Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy.” The next time you attend Mass keep your ears attuned to the word mercy.

◆ During this week, seek to do good to someone who cannot pay you back.

Questions ◆ Can you imagine searching for your enemy, finding him, and then letting him go as David did in the First Reading (1 Samuel 26:2, 7–9, 12–13, 22–23)?

◆ What does the reading from Samuel say to you about how we are to be merciful?

◆ In the Gospel, Luke says, “If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?” How does this change your mindset toward those with whom we have difficulties?


February 24, 2019Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ This week pay attention to your speech. Judge for yourself whether those who hear your words would think that you have a relationship with God.

◆ Tell someone this week one thing for which you have thanked God.

◆ It is almost Lent. What practice will help you grow closer to God?

Questions ◆ The First Reading from Sirach states, “The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had; so too does one’s speech disclose the bent of one’s mind.” Does your speech reflect more virtue than vice?

◆ The refrain for the Responsorial Psalm is “Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.” How often do you thank God for what you have been given?

◆ What is the fruit that you bear to others?


March 3, 2019Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Be prepared for the surprising graces that abound in the Church during the season of Lent. Participate in Lenten devotions and activities in your parish.

◆ In the Second Reading, Paul says, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” He is recalling Moses’s words (Deuteronomy 30:11–14) to the people of Israel just before his death and before they would cross over into the Promised Land. Read chapter 30 of Deuteronomy and then read the Romans passage again. Talk with your sponsor about how the Old Testament background enhances your understanding of the Letter to the Romans.

◆ Pray today’s Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 91:1–2, 10–11, 12–13, 14–15). Consider memorizing a line or two that you can call up when you face temptation or danger.

Questions ◆ When you are tempted, what strategies do you use to resist? What fortifies you against tempta-tion? How does it feel to overcome a temptation? How does it feel when you cave in? In those cases, what gives you comfort and strength to move on?

◆ Jesus was tempted for forty days and forty nights in the desert. Can you think of other stories in Scripture where the number forty turns up? Can you tell one of those stories? What is significant about the number forty?

◆ Jesus was tempted by the Devil three times. What other stories in Scripture involve the number three? Can you tell one of those stories? What is significant about the number three?


March 10, 2019First Sunday of Lent


Activities ◆ After the Rite of Election, catechumens are known as “the elect.” They have entered the period of purification and enlightenment, an intense period of formation, which often has the character of a retreat. All those who support them—sponsors, godparents, and the parish as a whole—now join them in prayer. If you haven’t already, slow the pace of your daily activities and make prayer a focus of each day.

◆ Taking a cue from the First Reading, spend a little time outside at night looking up at the stars, appreciating the great mystery of God’s creation. In the midst of that vast array, each of us is loved and welcomed into God’s work. What insights or prayers does that evoke for you?

◆ Focusing on the physical details before him instead of the spiritual import of the vision, Peter wants to erect tents for Jesus and his visitors. Of course these holy ones needed no earthly shelter, but many people do. Find a way to support affordable housing for those without through local agencies or through a group such as Habitat for Humanity.

Questions ◆ In today’s First Reading, in one of the most intriguing and dramatic scenes in Scripture, God makes a covenant with Abram. What have your experiences of God been like? What gives you assurance of God’s presence and promise in your life?

◆ Have you noticed that Scripture often poses questions? In today’s Responsorial Psalm we hear, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?” What fears or apprehen-sions are you wrestling with as you enter this new life of faith?

◆ Today’s Gospel recounts the Transfiguration, in which some disciples accompany Jesus up a mountain to behold him transfigured before them, revealing his divine self. As a member of the elect, you are now journeying through the period of purification and enlightenment. What parallels do you see between the Apostles’ experience of Jesus’ Transfiguration and your own process of purification and enlightenment?


March 17, 2019Second Sunday of Lent


Activities ◆ Consider fasting on the remaining Fridays of Lent as an act of penance for sin or as an expression of yearning for some good, such as world peace. (The Church defines fasting as eating one main meal and two smaller meals that together are not as large as the main meal.)

◆ Discover the Lenten devotion the Way of the Cross (Stations of the Cross). Through a book from the library or through an Internet search, learn the difference between the traditional images of the stations that are hanging in your parish church and the biblical Way of the Cross that Pope John Paul II introduced during his pontificate. The Vatican has a good site that explains the different forms of this devotion: www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy /documents/ns_lit_doc_via-crucis_en.html.

◆ Today’s readings underscore the importance of repentance. The Responsorial Psalm provides a wonderful way to pray as we are reflecting on our shortcomings and preparing for the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Try using this prayer frequently during the week.

Questions ◆ How do you interpret God’s name—“I AM”? How do you imagine it served as Moses’ introduction to the Israelites? How does it impact your sense of God?

◆ Have you ever found yourself with a heavy or hard heart? How were you able to repent of it? What did you do to lay the burden aside?

◆ What encouragement for repentance do we find in today’s Gospel?


March 24, 2019Third Sunday of Lent


Activities ◆ Pray for those who do not have access to clean water. Support organizations and institutions that assist people in finding water and develop-ing a sustainable livelihood.

◆ Whatever your role in the scrutiny today, prepare by pondering the readings and observe a prayerful focus during the rite.

◆ The refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm (“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts”) suggests that a hardened heart may block us from receiving God’s love and guid-ance. Have you ever experienced this? Discuss the question with a friend or write in your journal about the dangers of a hardened heart and how to soften it.

Questions ◆ Thinking about today’s First Reading, have you ever been in a position similar to the Israelites—so fixated on your needs that you lost trust in God and “grumbled”? What helps you realize that the Lord is indeed with you?

◆ Paul assures us that God proved his love for us when Christ sacrificed himself for our sake. What difference is that making in your life?

◆ When today’s Gospel begins, Jesus is tired from his journey, but in the course of his conversa-tion with the woman of Samaria he seems to revive. How do you explain this?


March 24, 2019Third Sunday of Lent, A


Activities ◆ The story of the prodigal son is probably one of the best-known passages in the Bible. This week take a survey of friends or family, asking with which character they most identify and why. See what insights emerge from these conversations.

◆ Taking up the challenge of becoming a recon-ciler is not easy. How can you take on the attitude that makes one effective at bringing reconciliation? One way is simply to notice and watch others who are gifted at welcoming, inviting, and helping people connect in spite of their defenses. Be alert to those people this week. Perhaps talk with them and try to imagine yourself as the generous father in Jesus’ parable.

◆ This week’s refrain for the Responsorial Psalm is “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” Even if you have not yet tasted the Eucharist, how have you seen its effects in people who receive it?

Questions ◆ What sort of manna has fed you during your times of wandering? How are the Passover and the Promised Land important to us as Christians?

◆ St. Paul says that those “in Christ” are “a new creation.” Why do you think joining yourself to Christ brings such a big change?

◆ What connection do you find between Paul urging his listeners to be ambassadors for Christ and Jesus’ lesson about the deep love and reconciliation offered by the Father?


March 31, 2019Fourth Sunday of Lent


Activities ◆ Take at least an hour this week to sit in complete darkness. Find a place of total dark-ness where light does not stream in from the outside. Imagine yourself in solidarity with those who cannot see. Pay attention to your thoughts and sensations and think about the opportunities as well as the limitations of your situation. Pray for all those who are physically blind, and pray also for those afflicted with spiritual blindness.

◆ Learn about the work of the Xavier Society for the Blind, an organization that provides Braille and large-print texts of religious materials for the blind and those with visual impairments: www.xaviersocietyfortheblind.org.

◆ Study the words of the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace.” Meditate on the lines that say, “I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.” Gather with other members of your family or community to sing this hymn.

Questions ◆ What do you think God sees that we can’t see? How are you coming to trust in God’s greater wisdom in your own life?

◆ When have you had the experience of walking out of darkness into light? What led you to the light?

◆ In today’s Gospel, what do you think gave courage to the newly sighted man to speak boldly to the Pharisees when his parents had been so timid with them? What gives you courage in intimidating situations?


March 31, 2019Fourth Sunday of Lent, A


Activities ◆ This week find out more about the lives of those caught up in the vicious cycle of sex trafficking and slavery. Here is a place to start: www.crs .org/public-policy/trafficking.cfm. Support programs and agencies that work to rescue those who are trapped in this way of life so that their dignity may be restored.

◆ Next week when you come to church, you will receive palm branches. Find out how these will be used and be prepared to bring them home and place them on a crucifix or cross that you have in your home. If you do not have a cross or crucifix, consider acquiring one.

◆ Make plans and arrangements now to clear your schedule for Holy Week so that you are able to participate in all of the liturgies and activities of this great week. Ask for time off of work if necessary and change previous appointments or activities so that you can fully participate in these holy mysteries.

Questions ◆ In the First Reading, Isaiah speaks for God: “In the desert I make a way.” How has God made a way for you recently?

◆ In the Second Reading, St. Paul speaks of depending on faith to know Christ and “the power of his resurrection.” How are you com-ing to understand the power of Christ’s Resurrection — and to hope for it?

◆ Today’s Gospel shows Jesus in a very tight situation—speaking for his Father in a stand-off between himself and the hard-hearted accusers of a helpless sinner at his feet. How does Jesus’ response crack open the hard hearts of the accusers and of us?


April 7, 2019Fifth Sunday of Lent


Activities ◆ This week, take time to read today’s Gospel again and think about it in relation to what we will hear next week—the Passion story. Talk with a friend or write in your journal about what we learn in this story that prepares us for what will come next.

◆ Next week, when you come to church, you will receive palm branches. Find out how these will be used, and be prepared to bring them home and place them on a crucifix or cross that you have in your home. If you do not have a cross or crucifix, consider acquiring one.

◆ Make plans and arrangements now to clear your schedule for Holy Week, so that you are able to participate in all of the liturgies and activities of this great week. Ask for time off of work, if necessary, and change previous appointments or activities so that you can fully participate in these holy mysteries.

Questions ◆ As you ponder Ezekiel’s vision, consider what graves you have inhabited in your life so far. How is God calling you out of them?

◆ Look carefully at the Second Reading and see Paul’s encouraging words about the benefits of Christ’s Spirit dwelling in us. How have you experienced the tension between being “in the flesh” and “in the spirit”? How can we invite Christ into us more and more?

◆ In what ways do you see Jesus’ humanity in this story at the same time that you witness his power over death?


April 7, 2019Fifth Sunday of Lent, A


Activities ◆ Take some time this week to meditate on one of the great musical settings of the Passion, such as Handel’s setting of the Brockes Passion, Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, or his St. John Passion all of which can be heard at www.youtube.com.

◆ If you have not already done so, clear your calendar this week and spend it as if it were a retreat. Refrain from some normal activities, such as watching television or eating between meals (if your diet allows).

◆ Set up a quiet place for prayer in your home— a chair and small table with Bible, candle, and cross or crucifix.

◆ Pray for others throughout the Church who have been preparing to celebrate the sacraments of initiation.

Questions ◆ The moving early Christian hymn that is our Second Reading speaks of Jesus “taking the form of a slave.” How have you identified with the image of Jesus as a slave? What can we learn from Jesus, who obediently accepted death on a cross?

◆ How do you feel moved to pay homage to Christ? Did walking in procession with palms feel appropriate? Is there some other gesture of honor you want to make this week?

◆ How can we form ourselves to have the same obedient and humble attitude as that of Christ Jesus? In what ways can we graft ourselves onto the body of Christ, the tree of life, and be a disciple of the Lord?


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


Activities ◆ At Mass on Easter Sunday, Catholics renew their baptismal promises. Last evening, at the great Easter Vigil, the elect proclaimed their baptismal commitment before going into the waters. They can now look forward to next Easter, when they will stand with the whole Church and renew their promises.

◆ Take time to look in the hymnal or music resource in your church. Find the section filled with Easter hymns and see how many you know. Choose one and meditate on the words. The songs we sing offer rich insights. Now savor all the alleluias you sing this season!

◆ In today’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene was the first to witness the Resurrection and the first to tell the disciples. Pray for women who continue to witness to the Resurrection of Christ and proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth.

Questions ◆ What connections can you make between Jesus’ burial wrappings and those that bound his friend Lazarus? What sense of liberation has Christ’s Resurrection brought you?

◆ What did you taste, touch, smell, feel, and see as you moved through the liturgies of the last three days? What was the most significant moment for you and why?

◆ “Alleluia” is the most expressive word (and song) of Easter. What does it mean to you? If you were baptized, how do you understand the new name of “neophyte” that has been given to you? What does it mean to be an Easter people with “alleluia” as our song?


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


Activities ◆ Do a little reading about the significance of numbers in the Bible—particularly the number seven in today’s Second Reading. You could begin with this page on a trusted Catholic website: www.catholic-resources.org/Bible /Numbers.htm.

◆ Share your experience of the great Easter Vigil and insights that have arisen from it with members of your family, co-workers, and friends.

◆ For the newly baptized and those newly received into the Church, this liturgical time of Easter is devoted to “mystagogia”—the unfolding of the mysteries. At this point you will pull together your experience of liturgy and of receiving the sacraments of initiation with Scripture and Church teaching. Out of those insights you will develop a sense of how to live as a disciple. Use whatever way you process best—conversation, writing, quiet reflection, or physical activity—to savor this important time.

Questions ◆ We learn from the Second Reading that the Apostles performed many signs and wonders, and that “believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them.” How would you explain all of this activity?

◆ What is this peace that Christ offers in today’s Gospel? How have you experienced it? How do you try to impart it to others?

◆ As one who has experienced the Lord’s Resurrection in a special way this Easter, how do you see yourself witnessing to others? How are you prepared to face hardships and persecution that might arise from your role?


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


Activities ◆ Consider creating a family tree so that you will be able to recall the stories of those who have gone before you from your family. You will be able to share this helpful information with your family and at the same time catch a glimpse into the significance of ancestors to the writers of Scripture.

◆ Is there someone with whom you want to reconcile and rebuild a relationship—someone who needs reassurance and strengthening? How might the conversation take on more meaning if you prepared a meal for this person?

◆ If you have the opportunity to work in a garden, give thanks for the flowers and blossoms of spring, which speak of resurrection and new life. Consider bringing some flowers to an elderly or sick family member, neighbor, or friend.

Questions ◆ Often in Scripture, as in the First Reading, we hear the phrase, “the God of our ancestors.” What do you think Luke, the author of Acts, and other writers of the Scriptures are trying to convey by mentioning these ancestors?

◆ What extraordinary frame of mind would make the Apostles rejoice “that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name”? Can you imagine feeling this way?

◆ Why do you think the Lord would bother to prepare breakfast for the Apostles when he had urgent things to tell them? What purpose did the breakfast serve for the Apostles and for us reading the story?


May 5, 2019Third Sunday of Easter


Activities ◆ Spring is a time for cleaning. Consider changing out all of your conventional light bulbs to ones that are energy efficient. Do your part to con-serve energy, and pray for those in the world who live without the benefits of electricity, or places that experience rolling blackouts on a regular basis.

◆ May 14 is the Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle. Read Acts 1:15–26 for the account of how Matthias was chosen to replace Judas as one of the Twelve.

◆ Many children in the community will be receiving their First Communion sometime during Easter Time. Pray for these children, who, like you, are tasting and seeing the good-ness of the Lord for the first time.

Questions ◆ What does it mean when Luke (the author of Acts) quotes the Lord’s command: “I have made you . . . an instrument of salvation”? How can we be an instrument of salvation for others? How can we discover God’s will for our role?

◆ Why do you think this reading from the Book of Revelation is also used on the Solemnity of All Saints? What connections do you see between the imagery in today’s reading and the Communion of Saints?

◆ Can you name some times in your life when you have heard the Shepherd’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 ◆ Find a map of the Middle East during the time of Paul. (A number of Internet sites provide maps that trace his journeys.) Look closely at the locations of all the cities mentioned in the First Reading. Imagine Paul’s task—converting and guiding these early Christians in their far-flung places.

◆ Pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, and lay ecclesial ministry this week. Pray for the thousands of communities around the world who do not have a resident priest to celebrate Sunday Eucharist with them every week.

◆ In the Gospel, Jesus says that he will know his disciples by their love for one another. Have you felt your love for others grow through the initiation process?

Questions ◆ Paul and Barnabas “exhorted” the communi-ties to “persevere in the faith.” What trials are you facing as you walk this new phase of the journey of faith?

◆ What parts of John’s vision of the new heaven and the new earth are most intriguing to you? The new Jerusalem coming down? The image of the bride? God making his dwelling with the human race? God wiping away every tear?

◆ Two words permeate today’s Gospel: glory and love. What is this mutual glorification that takes place between the Father and the Son? How is it related to “love one another”? In what ways do you give glory to God? How do you manifest the commandment to love one another? Are their individuals or groups you find difficult to love?


May 19, 2019Fifth Sunday of Easter


Activities ◆ In today’s Gospel, Jesus says that those who love him will “keep my word” and the Father and he will “make our dwelling with him.” In what ways have you chosen to keep Jesus’ word? How are you aware of the Father and Son dwelling in you?

◆ Pray for those who work to bring beauty and dignity to the liturgy each week: priest cele-brants, deacons, musicians, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, proclaimers of the Word, sacristans, servers, ministers of hospitality, and each member of the liturgical assembly who is called to full, conscious, and active participation.

◆ On May 31, the Church celebrates the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Read the Canticle of Mary, also called the Magnificat, in Luke 1:46–55.

Questions ◆ The Acts of the Apostles has been providing us with insights into the life of the early Church. Today’s reading from Acts speaks of one of the first serious controversies that arose in the Church. In what ways did the Church reconcile the differences?

◆ How have you experienced the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, in your life and in the Church? In what ways are you an advocate for others?

◆ The Easter season is the time to savor the mysteries. What are some spiritual exercises you have developed that allow you to contem-plate the mystery?


May 26, 2019Sixth Sunday of Easter


Activities ◆ The Paschal candle, or Easter candle, that has held a prominent place near the ambo, where the Word of God is proclaimed, is the great symbol of the light of Christ. Ask one of your catechists to explain to you about the placement of the candle at the font following the Easter season and its use during the funeral liturgy.

◆ The book of Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers contains a blessing for Easter foods. Consider acquiring a copy of this book so that you may find blessings and prayers for use in your home, the domestic church, throughout the year.

◆ Consider learning the Angelus, a Catholic devotion that recalls the Incarnation. It is traditionally prayed three times a day: 6 am, 12 noon, and 6 pm. Mark these hours of your day with the prayer of the Angelus, or a simple bow of your head, acknowledging the living and resurrected Christ who dwells in our lives.

Questions ◆ In the First Reading, we hear, “Jesus blessed them” with “upraised hands.” Where in the liturgy do you find hands upraised in prayer?

◆ Jesus has ascended to his Father’s right hand. At what point in the liturgy have you spoken these words?

◆ When we leave the liturgy, we may do so with the words, “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord,” or “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” How do you understand the mission-ary spirit of being sent into the world?


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


Activities ◆ Take stock of what you’ve learned about the variety of Catholic prayer forms: the Rosary, litanies, lectio divina, centering prayer, Jesus Prayer, walking prayer, chanted prayer (such as Taizé), and so forth. Ask for help from your sponsor or catechist in filling in what you have not yet learned.

◆ Today’s Second Reading comes from the last chapter of the Book of Revelation. The vision-ary, colorful, sometimes bizarre images that we have seen in the readings from this bookmarks it as a piece of apocalyptic literature. Since the Book of Revelation is so often quoted these days, and often in very unhelpful ways, learn more about this genre of Scripture at www .catholic-resources.org/Bible/Apocalyptic.htm.

◆ The Memorial of St. Charles Lwanga, martryr, is celebrated on June 3. Find out more about this saint and consider what it means to stand up for your faith.

Questions ◆ The first martyrdom in the Church, that of St. Stephen, is the subject of our First Reading. The Church has always honored its martyrs. Their feasts or memorials are celebrated on the anniversary of their birth in heaven. What parallels do you see between the deaths of Stephen and Jesus?

◆ Do you imagine yourself able to offer your spirit into the hands of the Lord at the time of your death? What do you think made Stephen able to do so?

◆ In today’s Gospel, Jesus prays intensely that those who belong to him be able to share in the unity between himself and the Father and be in union with each other. What does Jesus say about the barriers to unity posed by being in the world? How do you think we should engage them?


June 2, 2019Seventh Sunday of Easter


Activities ◆ 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.

◆ Pray for those who will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation and for their catechists, teachers, sponsors, and parents.

◆ Encourage your Christian initiation team to schedule a few gatherings of the newly initiated during the upcoming summer months. Offer to host a summer barbeque or another event.

Questions ◆ When we are sent from the liturgy on mission, we are meant to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in renewing the face of the earth in some fashion. This demands a certain humility for discerning the assignment and opening our-selves to the people and tasks. When have you felt yourself being led by the Spirit to some person or work? When have you felt yourself trying to vie with the Spirit for control?

◆ Today, we read the account of the coming of the Holy Spirit. What do you think it was like for Mary and the Apostles to be in the upper room as the tongues of flame came upon them? The Spirit can be dramatic, but it can also be gentle. How are you becoming aware of the subtler movements of the Holy Spirit in your life?

◆ St. Paul, in today’s Second Reading, illuminates another aspect of the Holy Spirit. He assures us that we have not received “a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear . . . but a spirit of adoption” through which we can address the Father intimately as his children. What experience have you had with this intimate spirit of adoption?


June 9, 2019Pentecost Sunday


Activities ◆ Today St. Paul tells the Christian community in Rome that “the love of God has been poured out into [their] hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to [them].” On your journey into the Christian community, have you felt or are you beginning to feel the love of God being poured into your heart? Talk with a friend or write in your journal about this aspect of your journey.

◆ This week during your prayer time, try praying Psalm 8. Reflect on all the wonderful images of creation and let yourself enter into this great hymn of praise. Are there ways you could 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 Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Which images do you find most intriguing?

Questions ◆ Although the verses in today’s First Reading don’t include it, the Book of Proverbs personi-fies the wisdom of God as female. (At the beginning of chapter 8, we read “Does not Wisdom call, / and Understanding raise her voice?”) In your Bible, take a look at Proverbs 1:20–21 as well as all of chapter 8. How might this personification help you contemplate a feminine aspect to God?

◆ Every time we make the Sign of the Cross, we have the opportunity to reflect on the Most Holy Trinity. Do you make the Sign of the Cross deliberately, so that you are calling the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to enter into your prayer? How do you understand the one God in Three Persons working in your faith life?

◆ In today’s Gospel, Jesus promises the disciples that the Spirit of truth will guide them. In what ways do you see the Holy Spirit at work in your life, in the world, in the liturgy?


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.

◆ If you have not already added a blessing prayer to the meals you share with family members and friends, begin doing so today. If you have done so, look for some Christian images of the fish, bread, or wine and meditate on their meaning.

◆ Try spending some time praying and meditat-ing in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament this week. Open yourself to the power of the Eucharist working in your life.

Questions ◆ How are you coming to understand the holy Eucharist as the center of the life of the Catholic Church? What questions might you like to discuss with your catechist or sponsor?

◆ What questions do you still have about the role of bishops, priests, and deacons in the Church? The Catechism of the Catholic Church has much helpful information in article 6, The Sacrament of Holy Orders (paragraphs 1536 through 1600). Perhaps you could read and discuss this section with your sponsor.

◆ What do the bread and the fish in today’s Gospel represent for you? What comparisons and contrasts do you see between Eucharist and a meal shared in your home?


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 domes-tic church—and enter into some activities that flow from your prayer.

◆ Spend some time learning about the role of Catholics and the role of the Church in general in the histories of the United States and Canada. Perhaps visit some Catholic sites near you.

◆ Pray this week for your country. Pray for all government leaders, for those who serve and protect your country, and for wisdom to guide its actions in the world.

Questions ◆ What was your first impression from today’s Gospel? What new insight about discipleship did you gain from this reading? From learning about being a disciple of Jesus Christ? What does it mean to serve Christ and the Church?

◆ 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? What stum-bling blocks are you finding along the way?


June 30, 2019Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time


July 7, 2019Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Questions ◆ In today’s poetic First Reading, what images in the reading resonate with your experiences of God? What does “Jerusalem” represent for you?

◆ 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 companions? What are you doing as you join them in bring-ing the Good News to all the nations?

Activities ◆ This week try praying today’s Responsorial Psalm every day. These psalms of praise are not intended to be prayed only when you find yourself in a thankful mood, but as a way of nurturing a thankful attitude.

◆ Visit an outdoor grotto or shrine. Consider adding an image of St. Francis of Assisi or the Blessed Virgin Mary to your own garden (or perhaps a small figurine in your home). Pray in thanksgiving for the wonder of God’s creation around you.

◆ 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.



Activities ◆ From books in a library or through the Internet, read about the life of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin, whose memorial is usually cele brated on July 14. She was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in October of 2012. Learn more about the saints and blessed ones from North America. Read the stories of their lives and reflect on what aspects of their holiness you could imitate.

◆ 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 ◆ What do you think is meant by the question Jesus is asked, “What must one do to inherit everlasting life?” What do you think motivates the young scholar of the law to ask it? Is it a question you wonder about? How does Jesus’s response deepen your understanding?

◆ In what ways is the parable in today’s Gospel breaking down barriers and divisions? What are you doing in your own life to heal ruptures and discord?

◆ The basic question in today’s Gospel is “Who is my neighbor?” How do you answer this ques-tion? Who are some of the Good Samaritans you look to for inspiration?


July 14, 2019Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ This week we celebrate the Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene, first witness to the Resurrection and called the “Apostle to the Apostles.” Read more about her or about one of the great women saints in the history of the Church and follow their holy example in your life.

◆ Reflect deeply on today’s Responsorial Psalm and use it as an examination of conscience. How might you act more justly in order to draw nearer to the Lord’s presence?

◆ Consider subscribing to one or two Catholic periodicals. Ask someone from your Christian initiation team to recommend a journal that will provide you with news about the Catholic Church along with spiritual nourishment for your ongoing faith journey and life of prayer.

Questions ◆ Abraham and Sarah model fine hospitality, not out of mere politeness, but with deep spiritual intent. In what ways do you offer hospitality to others, and how does it relate to your spiritual life?

◆ According to today’s Responsorial Psalm, what is the reward for doing justice? How have you experienced this?

◆ Do you identify more with Martha or Mary in today’s Gospel, and why? How might this story help you to balance contemplation and action?


July 21, 2019Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Explore the way of lectio divina and centering prayer by visiting www.centeringprayer.com /lectio_divina.html.

◆ Through the Internet or a book from the library, learn about the ancient Catholic practice of pilgrimage, especially the “Camino” to the Cathedral of St. James of Compostela in Spain.

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

Questions ◆ What were the words that you used when you first began to pray? What are some of your favorite Catholic prayers that you have learned?

◆ How are you coming to understand the Paschal Mystery (the pattern of the dying and rising of Christ) that Paul speaks of in the Second Reading?

◆ Does it seem surprising that the Apostles say, “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?


July 28, 2019Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time


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

◆ This week the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration (Tuesday, August 6). Try to attend Mass. Notice how the readings, sung music, prayers, and homily all combine to help us ponder the mystery of the Transfiguration.

◆ How does one become “rich in what matters to God,” as Jesus’s parable recommends? Today’s Responsorial Psalm seems to echo the other readings when it says, “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” Talk with your sponsor or a friend or write in your journal about the lifelong task of gaining “wisdom of heart.” How does one cultivate detachment from the human, earthly desires that keep us distracted from “what matters to God”?

Questions ◆ Quoheleth offers us the long view, a far wider perspective that immediately shows us the futility of much of our daily striving and anxiety. Are there periods in your life that now seem to have been lived in vain? What could help us cultivate a perspective that would result in priorities that matter more to God?

◆ 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 effective strategies are you finding for laying them aside?

◆ In today’s Gospel, Jesus steps back from the role of “judge and arbiter”? How would you describe the way he exercises his moral author-ity in this story and how are you coming to give him more authority in your life?


August 4, 2019Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Catholics practice both communal prayer and personal prayer. One resource for building up prayer at home (individual prayer or household prayer) is Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers, published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, or, if you live in Canada, Blessings and Prayers for Home and Family, published by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. In these books you will find Catholic prayer for all the notable moments of life and the liturgical year.

◆ Contemplate the role of Mary as the Mother of God and Mother of the Church. Ask questions and pray about any uncertainties that you have about Mary’s role in the Church.

Questions ◆ In the First Reading the author of the Book of Wisdom says of the Israelites who were enslaved in Egypt, trusting in a future Passover: “in secret the holy children of the good were offering sacrifice / and putting into effect with one accord the divine institution.” If each of us individually is quietly making the daily sacri-fices demanded in our lives, without any quick or direct response from God, how might that faithful “holding on” contribute to a future redemption?

◆ In what ways are you living—or not living—the message of today’s Gospel? As you walk the path toward Baptism or reception into the Church, how are you reconsidering the way you value your possessions?

◆ How is God speaking to you through this community? What challenges you, and what affirms you? Is faith providing you with all the answers or increasing your wonder and questions?


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. Ask your sponsor to teach you the beautiful prayer the Angelus and consider adding it to your daily prayer.

◆ 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. Whether or not you are in a difficult time at the moment, pray this prayer each day this week as a way of developing the attitude you will need for those situations. If you like, compose your own prayer on the same theme and share it with your sponsor.

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, primarily serve 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.

◆ Join with others in your neighborhood, city, or town to clean up the yard of a neighbor who does not have the resources to keep his or her property in good order. Instead of judging the person or the situation, offer a helping hand in compassionate assistance.

Questions ◆ What do you make of the two images of many people gathered around the Lord in the First Reading and the Gospel? In the Isaiah passage the Lord says, “I come to gather nations of every language,” and in the Gospel, “people will come from the east and the west . . . and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.” Yet in the Gospel, some are excluded from the banquet. Can you figure out why?

◆ The Second Reading tells us not to be disheart-ened when we are disciplined. As one who is a disciple-in-training, how do you feel about discipline? Has it been “a cause for joy” and brought you “the peaceful fruit of righteousness”?

◆ Looking again at the Gospel, what is it saying to you about salvation? What do you think Jesus means when he says we must “strive to enter the narrow gate”? How do you under-stand that you are being saved?


August 25, 2019Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Today’s Gospel is about a wedding banquet. Pray for all newly married couples and those who are preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Matrimony. Pray also for those whose marriages end in divorce or separation.

◆ Consider listening to some Gregorian chant this week to aid in your prayer and reflection. Prepare to be taken up in the mystery of the music.

◆ This week we commemorate 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. Thank your coworkers for their support and pray for harmony and collab-orative efforts in your workplace.

Questions ◆ In what frame of mind do you come to the liturgy? How are you learning to open yourself to God’s grace working in your life and taking that vision with you when you leave the church? In what ways are you learning to become inclusive?

◆ How have you imagined the heavenly kingdom? How do the images in the Second Reading add to that idea?

◆ Why do you think the lessons about humility in the First Reading and Gospel are so crucial to the spiritual life? What’s so important about humility?


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 commu-nicated 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 ◆ How does today’s First Reading resonate with your experience of trying to understand and come close to God?

◆ What are you willing to leave behind in order to follow after Jesus? What does it mean to take up one’s cross and follow after Jesus? What makes this terrible cost of discipleship possible?

◆ What was your reaction when you first heard the words of today’s Gospel—that we are to leave behind father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters?


September 15, 2019Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ Call someone from whom you are estranged this week. Offer a word of forgiveness and peace. Sit down face to face with this person, if you are able, and rejoice that this lost rela-tionship is in the process of being made whole and holy once again.

◆ 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 ◆ In the parable of the prodigal son, with which character do you most identify? Have you ever been in a situation in which you felt like the father?

◆ 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?

◆ In the First Reading, how does Moses intercede with God for the Israelites? When have you ever been in a position to intercede for some-one? When have you wished for an intercessor?


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. Support farmers’ mar-kets and local co-ops that provide sustainability for local and regional farmers, ranchers, and gardeners. Pray for those who work on the land.

Questions ◆ How are you coming to understand God’s mercy as a sign of hope for the hopeless? Consider the times in your life when you have lost hope. What event or person helped you to see hope in the midst of hopelessness?

◆ In what ways do you see the Church sharing its wealth with the poor and those living on the margins of society? Will you be willing to share from your bounty? How are you a good steward of your material goods?

◆ 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

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..

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 ◆ How is your understanding of today’s Gospel challenging you to reach out to those on the margins of society? What word pictures of the rich and the poor do you find in today’s Scripture readings?

◆ What are you learning about the social teach-ings of the Catholic Church? In what way do you see them as an extension of Gospel stories such as today’s?

◆ When have you involuntarily recoiled from a person who was disfigured or scarred and then regretted it? Have you ever visited anyone in a hospital or care center who is living with a physical impairment? If you decide to visit someone, what word of comfort would you bring?


September 29, 2019Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ If you sing in the shower, in your car, on a bicycle, or as you are out walking or exercising, consider singing or humming one of the hymns or psalms that you have heard at church. Have you noticed that the refrain from the Responsorial Psalm often comes into your mind during the week? Repeat the words and melody in your head (and out loud when you can) and join your heart and voice with all creation in a song of praise to our God.

◆ 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.ourcatholicprayers.com/the-angelus.html.)

◆ 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 ◆ Do you sometimes find yourself crying out, “How long, O Lord?” These words were written around 2,500 years ago; how expressive and helpful would you find them in a dire situation you are experiencing today?

◆ What is this spirit of power and love and self-control Paul speaks of in the Second Reading? Have you experienced it? How does one find it? How might it make you a mature disciple?

◆ 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 ◆ Consider the ways in which you are dying to self so that you might be raised to new life in Christ Jesus. Write your reflections in your journal or notebook and give thanks for a stronger faith that is accompanying you on the road to salvation.

◆ 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 for these good Samaritans who provide a healing touch, a calming hand, and a gentle word to the sick and those suffering in mind, body, and spirit.

Questions ◆ In the First Reading and Gospel we hear stories of healing, conversion, and gratitude. How is your story similar or different? What might be holding you back from being a true disciple of the Lord?

◆ Have you ever called out to the Lord in the way the ten lepers did in today’s Gospel or wanted to? In what ways do you give thanks?

◆ In the Second Reading, Paul says, poignantly, that he is suffering like a criminal, yet he bears with everything, for “If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere. . . .” What is your experience of dying and persever-ing in the spiritual life?


October 13, 2019Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ 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.

◆ Consider volunteering at a local hospital, care center, or retirement complex. Offer to help with small tasks such as taking people for walks, reading to or singing with them, or assisting them with simple tasks they can no longer perform.

Questions ◆ What do you think today’s readings are trying to convey? In what ways are you learning that God’s love is always present and has never been absent from your life?

◆ 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?

◆ How are you pursuing acts of justice—on your own behalf—as did the widow in today’s Gospel, or on behalf of someone else? How might the widow be seen as an echo of God, who fights for justice amidst our weakness?


October 20, 2019Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities: ◆ After reading today’s First Reading, pray the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55), Mary’s endless song of praise.

◆ 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?

◆ What sort of advocacy or service work do you feel drawn to? How can you help the “cry of the oppressed” be heard?

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

◆ The Second Reading is the testimony of a thoroughly committed Apostle of Christ as he foresees his end—all considered through the lens of Christ’s sacrifice. What parts of this reading speak to your own journey?

◆ 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.” At various times in our lives we may feel like the lost or the seeker-saver. Which are you now? Seeking and saving is of course 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.” This is a perfect prayer for people accompanying those preparing for initiation to pray on their behalf. And catechu-mens and candidates may certainly pray this prayer for themselves.

◆ Here is a story of conversion! In what ways do we find ourselves climbing a tree, like Zaccheus, so we can have a better view of Jesus? And once we can see him, what is his effect on us? 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.”

◆ The Church has a venerable tradition of visiting the graves of those who have died. In addition to visiting the graves of your loved ones on Memorial Day, visit the cemetery during the month of November and pray for all who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith.

Questions ◆ In today’s Gospel, what do you notice about Jesus’ skill as a teacher? How do his words in this story and others give you insights that build your faith?

◆ From the Second Reading, what can you tell about Paul’s belief in the power of prayer? How are you learning to pray for yourself and oth-ers? How are you learning to ask for prayers? How do we believe it will help you?

◆ What parts of today’s Responsorial Psalm echo the way Jesus describes the afterlife? What is the implication of today’s Gospel for your life?


November 10, 2019Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ 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.

◆ The end of today’s Gospel is “By your persever-ance you will secure your lives.” How have you developed perseverance and endurance in your spiritual life? How might you strengthen it? Talk with a friend or write in your journal about this.

◆ 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 ◆ What have you learned about the Second Coming of Christ? What insights do today’s readings add to that? And how have you come to understand that Christ is truly present in your midst even now?

◆ 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 what ways could you help to make the church a hospital for sinners, and not a museum for saints? What implication does this have for your life? In what way is God calling you to do his work?


November 17, 2019Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time


Activities ◆ To understand the image of Christ as King of the Universe, it’s helpful to understand the background to the First Reading. The fascinat-ing story of beloved King David is told in 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 1 Chronicles. When you can set aside the time, read the two books of Samuel to gain a sense of David’s personality and role in the history of the Jewish people.

◆ 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.

◆ On November 22, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Cecilia, 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/).

Questions ◆ How are you coming to understand that Christ is indeed King of the Universe? What parts of the beautiful hymn in the Second Reading resonate with the king image?

◆ 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”?

◆ If you were standing at the foot of the cross “watching,” would your response be silence or would you take words on your lips? What might those words be?


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

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