Reflection Questions

Discussion Questions for the Sunday Readings (readings can be found here)
 

1. In In the first reading Peter testifies to the resurrection of Jesus, that His flesh was left uncorrupted. Peter and the apostles and many other disciples were witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus.  This becomes the basis of the faith in Jesus as God, the beginnings of the Church founded on Peter.  He has the courage to speak the truth, pointing out that these are the very people who had Jesus unlawfully put to death.  What courage would it take for Peter to speak this truth to those who condemned Jesus?  What courage does it take for us to speak this truth to those we know?
2. The psalm says Lord, you will show us the path of life.  The psalmist asks the Lord to be before him, that he seeks counsel from the Lord.  How can we seek that counsel?  How do we turn to God to counsel us weekly, daily?
3. Peter speaks of being ransomed by God from the futility of our conduct, that we are judged by our works, but that we are also paid for not by gold or silver but something even more precious.  We are ransomed by the very Body and Blood of Jesus.  This is so that our faith and hope can be in God.  Jesus is the physical presence of God so that we in our physicalness can know God, this is the ransom paid.  That our works can conform to God through the grace given through the Cross.  In what ways do we need to transform our lives so our works may be conformed to the works of Jesus?
4. Why did Jesus leave them?  Here he explains to the disciples on the road to Emmaus the whole of the Old Testament how the entire Old Testament was pointing to Jesus and who He was and what He must do to redeem the world.  These disciples had love burning in their hearts.  The love of the Lord that they walked with.  This is almost a sign of the Old Testament in that God walks with His people hidden and yet revealing Himself.  Finally, He shows Himself in the breaking of the bread, an image and verbiage used often to describe the Mass in the early church.  Yet, at the breaking of the bread Jesus reveals Himself and disappears.  Again, this can almost feel like the Gospels, in the entire Scripture the Gospels are just a small piece.  Yet, how does this point to the Eucharist.  He may have disappeared from their sight, but He was now just hidden in a new way, under the form of the bread.  Jesus is present in the Eucharist.  How can we think of Mass like the Road to Emmaus, listening to the Scripture that point to Jesus, and then recognizing Him in the Eucharist?  Can we realize that Jesus does not abandon us, but is present to us always in the Eucharist?

 
For Children:
 
Ask the children if they can imagine what the disciples on the road to Emmaus must have felt like?  Abandoned?  Lost? Confused?
Discuss how Jesus did not want to leave His disciples abandoned.  So He established the way He could remain with them He gave them the Eucharist so He could be with them always.  As them to think about Mass and how Mass is similar to this story of the Road to Emmaus, the readings pointing to Jesus and the breaking of the bread. 
Ask the children to talk about how Jesus is still with them.  What does it mean for Jesus to rise from the dead?  Go for a walk and have them tell you what they know about Jesus. 
 
Let’s pray:
 
Dear Lord Jesus, there are times we feel lost, abandoned, we don’t know why something has happened.  Help us to understand that you are present in our midst even in these times. Help us to know you and see you in our family, and friends, and most especially in the breaking of the bread.:
 
Our Father…
 
And let us ask Mary to protect us:
 
Hail Mary…

Discussion Questions for the Sunday Readings (readings can be found at www.usccb.org/readings)
 

• In the Gospel proclaimed before the procession with palms we read about the triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  A few days later these same people are calling for the Crucifixion of Jesus.  Both of these events seem highlighted by mob mentality.  The group seems to be going all in on Jesus being King and then all in on Him being a criminal.  What times and in what ways do we feed into, or are influenced by mob mentality today?

• The psalm and the Prophet Isaiah both have revelations about who the Messiah is.  It is not how many would expect the messiah to be, instead of triumphant and exalted, He is beaten, disgraced, His garments are divided.  Even in this we see the psalmist give praise to God even in the midst of this disgrace and turmoil.  There are so many struggles today. We can be united with the Messiah in suffering and pain. What are ways that we can also unite in praising God?

• Jesus teaches us what it means to truly be a child of God.  St. Paul states, “though He was in the form of God…”, Jesus is the second person of the Trinity, equal to the Father in all ways.  However, He did not abuse that power, He did not exalt Himself.  Instead, He did what Adam could not do; He was obedient.  Obedience sometimes gets a bad rap in today’s world.  People seem to think obedience is bad, some equate it to being abused, some to being walked over, some to being weak.  Jesus shows us that to be obedient to God is the highest form of life.  Realizing that God is our creator and we are the creature we are obedient to Him who created us.  Are there ways that we need to be more obedient to God?

• This phrase, “Why have you forsaken (abandoned) me?" repeats from the psalm and into the Gospel reading. It can be confusing to hear Jesus say this.  Did God forsake Jesus?  On the contrary, God was ever closer to Jesus at this time.  However, Jesus shows us that he is truly divine, and truly human. In the end, Jesus dies on the Cross but establishes more of a relationship between God and His people.  The veil tearing in two represents the separation between God and man being ripped in two. We are now closer to God than we had ever been.  It is natural for us to believe we are abandoned in our times of need.  How often do we ask why God did something to us when something bad happens?  How can we know that God is with us even when it feels He has abandoned us? 

 
For Children:
 
Ask the children if they have ever felt like they have been alone or scared that no one was going to help them?

Discuss how Jesus even felt alone at times, how He had strength to acknowledge that He felt that way, but that he also had the faith that the Father was with Him.  Ask them in what way they suffer and hurt sometimes.  Ask if they can see some similarities with what Jesus did on the cross.  Discuss with them that Jesus was on the Cross to help us always with our suffering.  Take a cross or crucifix down and ask them to point out where Jesus was hurt.  Have them give Jesus kisses where he is hurting.  Tell them to remember to place their hurt onto Jesus’s hurting whenever they feel like they are hurting too much, and Jesus will kiss their hurt. 

Take a paper towel (or a cloth that can be ripped) and place it between the children and the cross.  Discuss how there used to be something that kept us from going directly to God.  God did not want this though, so He made a way to get rid of this blockade.  Let them know the towel is like the blockade that prevents us from loving God directly.  But when Jesus died that was torn in two (rip the towel).  Now we can go to God because of Jesus who died on the Cross.  Ask them to tell Jesus what they want God to know. 
 
Let’s pray:
 
Dear Lord Jesus, we desire to be in relationship with you.  We want to be obedient to you, and follow all your ways.  Help us when we struggle and are in pain, take our pain upon your cross with you and bear it with us.  Take all of our needs as we pray in the words you have given us.:
 
Our Father…
 
And let us ask Mary to protect us:
 
Hail Mary…
 
All content original to the Diocese of Kalamazoo

Discussion Questions for the Sunday Readings (readings can be found at www.usccb.org/readings)
 

• In the first reading we Ezekiel prophesies the following: “I will put my spirit in you that you may live”.  God has done that through our participation in the sacraments.  At Baptism, we were adopted into the family of God and his spirit dwells within us. We are a temple of the Lord.  Think about the following: how do I live my life differently knowing that the spirit of God dwells within me?

• The psalmist cries out, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.” In troubling times, we all cry out to the Lord. The psalmist goes on to speak of his trust in the Lord, do we have the same trust?  What are our greatest needs at this time?  In what ways can we ask for God’s guidance and help?

• St. Paul speaks to us about the Spirit of God that dwells within us.  He speaks of the body being “dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness”.  St. Paul often references the body or the flesh to refer to those things that make us think of this world and not life everlasting.  If we are followers of Christ, our focus is on the life to come, the everlasting life, knowing of the resurrection.  Think about the following: in what ways do I focus on this world?  What is holding me back from letting the spirit of Christ who dwells within me live for all to see?  What part of me do I need to let die so that Jesus can resurrect me in His image more fully?

• In the Gospel, we hear of Lazarus, a good friend of Jesus.  Jesus gets word that he is dying but He does not immediately travel to him.  Mary and Martha both rightly say, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  Today we can look around and say the same thing, Lord, if you are here why are we suffering?  Reflect on this: In what ways might Jesus make good of our current situation?  In what ways is Jesus already here comforting us?  How can you be like Jesus and weep for those who are suffering, but also do something to help?

 
For Children:
 
Ask the children what it has been like to be “stuck at home” for this time.  Has it been easy? Has it been hard?

Discuss with them people they know who are suffering or hurting, maybe even themselves. Ask how can we help them?  What are the ways we need to ask Jesus to help them?

Talk about how Jesus wept for Lazarus, ask if they think He ever weeps for them.  Ask them to think of a time they had a difficult time and how Jesus might have been there for them. 

Finally, discuss how Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead.  How Jesus wants to be with us and help us.  Ask them how can we let Jesus know what we need?  In what ways can we be like Jesus to those around us?  How can we be close to Jesus like Lazarus was?  What must we be like today so we can spend forever with Jesus? 
 
Let us pray:
 
Dear Lord Jesus, we want your healing touch upon our lives.  Weep with us now as weep for ourselves and those who are sick and dying.  Roll back the stones that prevent us from seeing you and being with you.  Help us to turn to you in friendship with all that we need. Let us pray in the words Jesus has given us:
 
Our Father…
 
And let us ask Mary to protect us:
 
Hail Mary…

All content original to the Diocese of Kalamazoo

Discussion Questions for the Sunday Readings (readings can be found at www.usccb.org/readings)
 

1. In the first reading we see that Samuel is set on who he thinks God would have called to be the next king. In fact it is the youngest son who is not even present when Samuel approaches.  God is often surprising in how He acts and whom He chooses.  Think of ways that God has acted in your life, maybe even tasks or ways He has used you.  Ask yourself: In what ways am I surprised by the ways that God has acted in my life?

2. During this time of isolation it is good to know that God is our Shepherd.  Sometimes we might hear that God does not give us more than we can handle, but in reality He does not allow us to struggle more than we can handle with Him.  Think about the following: How do I need God to shepherd me at this time in my life?

3. During this time of Lent we often see and hear in the scriptures the images of darkness and light, the contrast between the two.  We have survived in the northern hemisphere the darkest of days and are heading toward the longest of days.  The scriptures compare light and dark with grace and sin.  The Easter Vigil will show this most dramatically while we start the vigil in darkness and slowly allow the fire to spread through candles each person holds lighting up the entire Church.  Where is the darkness in your life, where have you allowed the darkness to penetrate and live?  Contemplate: During this time of Lent how can I let the light of Christ penetrate the darkest parts of my soul?  What actions do I need to take?

4. In the Gospel the man born blind is associated with being born in sin.  While we know that the act of being born without sight is not an indication of a personal sin, original and corporate (sins done collectively) are integrated in who we are.  By healing a man who was born blind Jesus shows His power over sin and nature.  The man in the end of this verse says, “I do believe Lord” and he worships Jesus.  Reflect on this: Do I see Jesus as the Lord of all I am?  What else of my life do I need to give over to allow Jesus to be Lord?

 
For Children:
 
Turn off the lights of the room and allow it to be dark for a couple minutes.  Slowly light a couple candles and let the children see the room light up. Finally turn on the lights.  Discuss with them what it was like to be in the dark.  Ask questions like: How hard was it to see?  Would you walk around?
 
Think about what it was like with a few candles lit.  What was different?  Would you walk around with just a little light? Could you see everything?
Talk about all the lights being on.  Ask what it was like then?  How was it different then when just the candles were lit?
 
Finally, discuss how Jesus is our light; compare the man born blind.  For his life it was like the lights were off.  When we only had the candles burning maybe it was like when the clay was on his eyes and he was being cured, and finally he could see fully just like when the lights were on.  We can see but do we see the spiritual things fully?  Can we ask Jesus to see everything better?  In what ways do we need Jesus?  Do you want to have Jesus as your Lord like the blind man did?  Will you worship Jesus? 
 
In this time where we can’t go to Mass it is almost like being in the dark.  Can we ask Jesus to help us someday soon to be with Him at Mass? 
 
Let us pray:
 
Dear Lord Jesus, we want you to be our light.  Take us out of darkness and guide us in the way of life.  Help us to see the path that you have for us, and how we can best follow you.  Please help all the victims of the coronavirus. Give us the strength to continue on in this time of trial.  Hasten our return to Mass.  Let us pray in the words Jesus has given us:
 
Our Father…
 
And let us ask Mary to protect us:
 
Hail Mary…

All content original to the Diocese of Kalamazoo