18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Background: This Sunday’s selection does not follow directly upon last Sunday’s since the crossing of the lake by Jesus has been omitted; that is why the crowd has to get into boats to see if he is on the other side. He had had to escape from them because they wanted to make him their kind of king. Now he challenges them to go beyond a superficial faith based upon miracles by opening their hearts to the word of God through faith in him and his message. Only then will the hunger of their hearts and the thirst of their souls be satisfied.
Discussion Questions
- Once again, what deep hunger or thirst do you yearn for Jesus to satisfy in your life?
- What illusion or superficial desire is getting in the way of Jesus re-creating you in his own image?
- Which people in your life reinforce your illusions? Which people call you to your better and truer self?
- Which word of Jesus do you think that the Church needs to speak more clearly to our society today?
Practice: Catholics are not fundamentalists; we read scripture with an open mind as well as an open heart. Does your Bible have footnotes that give you the background needed truly to understand the text?
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Background: Once again the crowd is recalcitrant, questioning how Jesus could have come “from heaven.” As the very enfleshment of the Word of God, as the person who always speaks the message of the One who sent him, he clearly does come from heaven—as does any believer who lives and speaks the Word in obedience to God’s call.
Another Exodus reference: the passage about giving his flesh for the life of the world interprets the Eucharistic Meal in light of John’s portrayal of the crucifixion as the sacrifice of the Lamb needed for the Passover meal. We are called to surrender ourselves to a love and trust that deep.
Discussion Questions
- How has God drawn you to Jesus? Was it easy or hard to answer that call?
- What nourishes you so far on your journey through life back to God?
- How has Jesus’s promise of eternal life already affected your outlook on your life and your values?
- Ephesians says that all who have been sealed in the Spirit are to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving. Which of these do you do best? Which do you need to work on?
Practice: Which person do you need to apologize to? Ponder that question this week, and then ask Jesus to help you find life by doing so.
Ephesians says that all who have been sealed in the Spirit are to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving. Which of these do you do best? Which do you need to work on?
Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Background: There are two sets of readings for this festival: the first for the evening before and the second for the following day. Both deal with similar images; both emphasize the role of human faith for the working out of God’s plan. But we must hear them while keeping the words of St. Bernard in mind: what is said about Mary can usually be said about the Church and about each Christian soul.
The image linking the two first readings is that of the ark of the covenant, the visible container of the covenant God makes with the chosen people. For us, the people of the New Covenant, God’s call is to deep faith in the risen Jesus. Just as Mary had to trust that God could work a miracle within her, so the Church has to trust that in the waters of the font the Spirit will continually bring fort new brothers and sisters of Jesus; and each believer must trust that the Spirit is working within us, bringing forth Jesus once again for a needy world.
Discussion Questions
- What new hope has your trust in God given you?
- What new joy has your trust in God given you?
- How must each of us and our Church change for Mary’s Magnificat to become real today?
- How has Mary inspired you to be a follower of Jesus?
Practice: This week each day take one section of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin/Litany of Loreto, and pray it slowly, letting it speak to your heart and imagination.
For us, the people of the New Covenant, God’s call is to deep faith in the risen Jesus.
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Background: By eating together the broken bread and the wine outpoured, we encounter one of Jesus’s four Real Presences—and already share in the life of heaven. The danger is that we will imitate our recalcitrant ancestors who always kept misunderstanding the message that God was sending to them in Jesus.
Discussion Questions
- St. Paul is very clear: the eucharistic meal unites us not only with Christ the Head but also with every member of his living Body. How has your share in the Eucharist reshaped your love and reverence for others?
- How has your love for them brought others to know the love and life of Jesus?
- In Proverbs the hostess invites the simple and humble to her banquet that they might find true wisdom. How has sharing in Christ’s banquet given you a wisdom different from what the world preaches?
- Eucharist means thanksgiving, and Ephesians calls us to give thanks for everything. What part of your life is it hard for you to give thanks for?
Practice: A common prayer associated with sharing in the eucharistic meal is the Anima Christi. Find one of its translations that speaks to you, and pray it each day this week.
St. Paul is very clear: the eucharistic meal unites us not only with Christ the Head but also with every member of his living Body.
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Background: Through eating the Bread and drinking the Cup we encounter the real, substantial, and sacramental presence of Jesus, our risen Lord. Yet he is not physically present; we are not cannibals—the mistake that the recalcitrant disciples make as they too misunderstand the words of Jesus. Yet Peter and the other apostles do understand them correctly and come to deeper faith that God’s Holy One is speaking to them and so choose to keep following him.
Discussion Questions
- What word of life has Jesus spoken to you that has made you choose him as your Lord and Teacher?
- What doubt or anxiety still makes you hesitate to follow Jesus?
- Have you ever experienced that Jesus loves you just as much as a faithful spouses love each other? How has that changed your relationships with others?
- What word of life do we Christians need to bring to today’s world?
Practice: Love is shown more in deeds than in words, but words don’t hurt. Ponder which person in your life would appreciate some reassurance of your love for them, and then find some way to express it to them in words and in some small gesture.
