Gospel Passage
Mark 9:38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your
name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said,
“Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon
afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us. 41 For truly I
tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of
Christ will by no means lose the reward. 42 “If any of you put a stumbling block
before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 44 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell., 46 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
Questions for Discussion:
1. Sometimes we get angry because someone else has something we wish we
could have. Jesus’ friends got angry because some other people were doing
God’s work and they thought they were the only ones that should do it. What
should we think about people who do good deeds for God? (Hint: what did
Jesus say?)
2. Jesus says that whoever gives a cup of water to drink to a Christian will not
lose his reward. What is the reward that Jesus most wants to give to those who
do good in his name?
3. Jesus gets very graphic about what we need to do in approach to sin: we
need to cut it out of our lives. What are the various things you need to do to cut sin out of your life?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sunday Gospel Message - Sunday, Sept. 27th, 2009 - Twenty - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Jesus so identified Himself with His people that He
tells us what we do to or for others, we do to or for Him.
Whether we prophesy (speak God’s word) or cast out
demons, we do it all for and with and in Jesus. We are
called to be faithful to Jesus and not give scandal to the
Lord’s people. Jesus reminds us that all our faculties are to
be use for His glory and honor and for the building up of His
body on earth, the Church.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence
Jesus so identified Himself with His people that He
tells us what we do to or for others, we do to or for Him.
Whether we prophesy (speak God’s word) or cast out
demons, we do it all for and with and in Jesus. We are
called to be faithful to Jesus and not give scandal to the
Lord’s people. Jesus reminds us that all our faculties are to
be use for His glory and honor and for the building up of His
body on earth, the Church.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Family Bible Study - Sunday, September 20th, 2009 - Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel Passage
Mark 9:30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want
anyone to know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of
Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after
being killed, he will rise again.” 32 But they did not understand what he was saying
and were afraid to ask him. 33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in
the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they
were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.
35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must
be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one
who sent me.”
Questions for Discussion:
1) “They did not understand what Jesus was saying and were afraid to ask Him.”
What should we do if we don’t understand what Jesus is asking of us? To whom should we go to?
2) To be great in God’s eyes, we have to be the servant of all, just like Jesus showed He was our servant of love by washing the feet of the apostles and telling us to do the same. What service can you do this week to become greater in God’s eyes?
3) Jesus loves children and wants us to welcome children in His name. Welcoming children is a pure act of love since you do not expect anything from them in return for welcoming them. Has anyone ever welcomed you in this way that Jesus asks His disciples to do so? Have you ever welcomed someone else in this way?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry
Mark 9:30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want
anyone to know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of
Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after
being killed, he will rise again.” 32 But they did not understand what he was saying
and were afraid to ask him. 33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in
the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they
were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest.
35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must
be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one
who sent me.”
Questions for Discussion:
1) “They did not understand what Jesus was saying and were afraid to ask Him.”
What should we do if we don’t understand what Jesus is asking of us? To whom should we go to?
2) To be great in God’s eyes, we have to be the servant of all, just like Jesus showed He was our servant of love by washing the feet of the apostles and telling us to do the same. What service can you do this week to become greater in God’s eyes?
3) Jesus loves children and wants us to welcome children in His name. Welcoming children is a pure act of love since you do not expect anything from them in return for welcoming them. Has anyone ever welcomed you in this way that Jesus asks His disciples to do so? Have you ever welcomed someone else in this way?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry
Sunday Gospel Message - September 20th, 2009 - Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
The Book of Wisdom speaks about the wicked
trying to destroy the righteous one. The evil ones even
recognized the fact that God would take care of the good
person. The Church has looked at this as what evil has done
to Jesus and His Church. The Lord tells us that the gates of
hell would not prevail against the Church. Jesus reminds us
today that He will suffer for us and the way to be great in the
Kingdom of God is to be the servant of all.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence
The Book of Wisdom speaks about the wicked
trying to destroy the righteous one. The evil ones even
recognized the fact that God would take care of the good
person. The Church has looked at this as what evil has done
to Jesus and His Church. The Lord tells us that the gates of
hell would not prevail against the Church. Jesus reminds us
today that He will suffer for us and the way to be great in the
Kingdom of God is to be the servant of all.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Family Bible Study - Sunday, September 13th, 2009 - 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel Reading:
Mark 8:27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and
on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they
answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the
prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him,
“You are the Messiah.” 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about
him. 31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great
suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be
killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter
took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples,
he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not
on divine things but on human things.” 34 He called the crowd with his disciples,
and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves
and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will
lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
Questions for discussion:
1. A lot of people say that Jesus was just a good or famous man of God, like
John the Baptist, Elijah or the other prophets. Who do you say that Jesus is?
2. Peter tried to stop Jesus from suffering, and Jesus said he was behaving like
the devil, because at that moment Peter was trying to stop Jesus from fulfilling
His mission, as the devil always tries to do. What is Jesus’ mission? How can
we help Him to accomplish it?
3. Jesus says that to be His disciples, His followers, we need to do three
things. What are they? (Hint: see verse 34). Do you try to do all three?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry
Mark 8:27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and
on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they
answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the
prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him,
“You are the Messiah.” 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about
him. 31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great
suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be
killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter
took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples,
he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not
on divine things but on human things.” 34 He called the crowd with his disciples,
and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves
and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will
lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
Questions for discussion:
1. A lot of people say that Jesus was just a good or famous man of God, like
John the Baptist, Elijah or the other prophets. Who do you say that Jesus is?
2. Peter tried to stop Jesus from suffering, and Jesus said he was behaving like
the devil, because at that moment Peter was trying to stop Jesus from fulfilling
His mission, as the devil always tries to do. What is Jesus’ mission? How can
we help Him to accomplish it?
3. Jesus says that to be His disciples, His followers, we need to do three
things. What are they? (Hint: see verse 34). Do you try to do all three?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Family Bible Study - September 6th, 2009 - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel Reading:
Mark 7:31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon
towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 They brought to him a
deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand
on him. 33 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers
into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then looking up to heaven, he
sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And immediately his
ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then Jesus
ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they
proclaimed it. 37 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done
everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
Questions for discussion:
1. Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue, looked
toward his Father, and said, “Ephphatha,” “be opened.” Do you know when
Jesus did this to you? (Hint: it happens during the first sacrament of initiation
you received).
2. Jesus told them not to tell anyone about the miracle — he didn’t want them
looking at him just as a miracle worker, because he wanted them to listen to
His words — and yet they proclaimed it everywhere. Jesus, on the other hand,
has told us to spread the good news, and so few of us talk about him. Why do
you think people are too shy to talk about Jesus to everyone?
3. “He has done everything well,” they said about Jesus. Name three things
Jesus has done well for you in your life.
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry
Mark 7:31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon
towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 They brought to him a
deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand
on him. 33 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers
into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then looking up to heaven, he
sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And immediately his
ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then Jesus
ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they
proclaimed it. 37 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done
everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
Questions for discussion:
1. Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue, looked
toward his Father, and said, “Ephphatha,” “be opened.” Do you know when
Jesus did this to you? (Hint: it happens during the first sacrament of initiation
you received).
2. Jesus told them not to tell anyone about the miracle — he didn’t want them
looking at him just as a miracle worker, because he wanted them to listen to
His words — and yet they proclaimed it everywhere. Jesus, on the other hand,
has told us to spread the good news, and so few of us talk about him. Why do
you think people are too shy to talk about Jesus to everyone?
3. “He has done everything well,” they said about Jesus. Name three things
Jesus has done well for you in your life.
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry
Sunday Gospel Message - September 6, 2009 - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
When a child is baptized, the minister of the
Sacrament touches the ears and mouth of the child to
symbolize that the child’s ears may always be open to
receive God’s word and that the child’s mouth may be ready
to proclaim God’s word. When the Lord comes into our
lives, His loving hands touch our spiritual senses. We begin
to see the Lord and His way; we hear Him speaking to us
and guiding us; we walk in His ways; we are able to speak
His word. Our God comes to save us and to make us strong
in our spiritual life.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence
When a child is baptized, the minister of the
Sacrament touches the ears and mouth of the child to
symbolize that the child’s ears may always be open to
receive God’s word and that the child’s mouth may be ready
to proclaim God’s word. When the Lord comes into our
lives, His loving hands touch our spiritual senses. We begin
to see the Lord and His way; we hear Him speaking to us
and guiding us; we walk in His ways; we are able to speak
His word. Our God comes to save us and to make us strong
in our spiritual life.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence
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