Family Bible Study - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Passage
Luke 4:21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in
your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that
came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23 He said to them,
“Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will
say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at
Capernaum.’” 24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the
prophet’s hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the
time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there
was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except
to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the
time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the
Syrian.” 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29
They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which
their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed
through the midst of them and went on his way.

Questions for Discussion:
1. The people of Nazareth thought Jesus was Joseph’s son. At the time, they
couldn’t have known any better. But what was the real relationship between
Jesus and St. Joseph?

2. Jesus says “No prophet is accepted in his hometown.” In other words, it’s
hard to tell the Gospel to those you know very well, because they may take
you and the words of God you say for granted. Have you ever had trouble
trying to tell the Gospel to your family or friends?

3. The people of Nazareth tried to KILL Jesus by pushing Him off a cliff, but
Jesus escaped. Why do you think they wanted to kill Jesus? Why would
anyone want to kill Jesus?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Oftentimes a prophet was not accepted because of
the message that he preached. Jesus Himself was not
accepted in His own native town. The prophets still
proclaimed the word of God out of love for their people.
Whether accepted or not, we are called to proclaim the
message of Jesus Christ. Whatever we say or do needs to be
done in a loving way, as St. Paul states today in his word:
“Love is patient, love is kind, … Love never fails.”
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Gospel Passage
Luke 1:1 Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events
that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed on to us by those who
from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 I too decided,
after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly
account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the truth
concerning the things about which you have been instructed. Luke 4:14 Then Jesus,
filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought
up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to
read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to
proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Questions for Discussion:
1. Why did St. Luke write his Gospel? Why does he say he did it?
2. Jesus said, “This Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” What was He
saying was happening?
3. Jesus came to “bring good news to the poor.” Do you look at Jesus’
teachings as good news? Do you respond with appropriate joy, or
do you look at them as a burden? What can you do to spread the good news?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Ezra read from the book and commented on the
reading from daybreak until midday. Quite a long reading
and homily! Jesus opened up the Hebrew Scriptures from the
book of Isaiah and read a short reading and said succinctly:
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Quite a short homily! Whether the reading and homily are
long or short, the response should be that of the people:
“Amen, Amen.” The sense is that we need to hear the word
and act upon it. Since it is the word of the Lord, it is
imperative that we respond to the word that the Lord gives
us.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

"Thou shalt not kill" from Sister Lucia's Sixth Memoir

And, as the Bishop of Leiria said to me: "You must thank God for giving you such a good and holy mother."
Yes, I thank God for the good and holy mother He gave me, while at the same time I mourn bitterly over so many others who deliver their children to death even before they are born. "Thou shalt not kill", is what we are told in God's Law (Ex. 20,13).
I am the last of the seven children that God gave to my parents; if that had been their attitude, I would not be here today.
- Sister Maria Lucia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart
from her Sixth Memoir - My Mother. Fatima in Lucia's own words II.

Spiritual Adoption Prayer for the unborn

Please join us in praying for the unborn -
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much. I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby that I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.”
- Prayer of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Family Bible Study - Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Gospel Passage
John 2:1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of
Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3
When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4
And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has
not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6
Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him,
“Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the
first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Questions for Discussion:
1. Mary acted on the young couple’s behalf even before they realized that they
had a problem. Do you realize how often Mary acts on your behalf with Jesus
before you realize you have a problem?
2. Mary’s advice to the stewards is the same she’d give to us: “Do whatever he
tells you.” Doing whatever Jesus tells us is the secret to happiness. How well
do you listen to what Jesus tells you? How well do you do whatever he tells
us?
3. The wedding feast of Cana is the second of the five luminous mysteries of
the Rosary. What are the other four? [Hint: Matthew 3:16-17,
10:7-8, Luke 9:29-35, 22:19-20]
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Today, as we begin what is called “Ordinary Time,”
we have the third epiphany or manifestation of the divinity
of Jesus. At the marriage feast of Cana, Jesus changes water
into wine. He has come to bring something new out of what
was old. He is inaugurating the New Testament, the New
Covenant and He is fulfilling the Old Covenant. He is
manifesting His power and His concern for all people. Mary
said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” That is
good advice for us: listen to the Lord and do whatever He
tells us.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - The Baptism of the LORD

Gospel Passage
Luke 3:15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were
questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the
Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water;
but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the
thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 21
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been
baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit
descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from
heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Questions for Discussion:

1. God the Father says from heaven about Jesus, “You are my Son, my
beloved; with you I am well-pleased.” Could God the Father say the same
things about you? (Son=child). Would He be well pleased?

2. What does it mean to say that Jesus “baptizes with the Holy Spirit”? Who is
the Holy Spirit? When are we baptized with the Holy Spirit?

3. The day of your baptism is the most important day of your life, because it
is on that day you became a child of God. What day is the anniversary of
your baptism (if you don’t know, you must look it up!)? What types of things
could you do to make this day special? How important it is in your life?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - Feast of the Epiphany

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY
Today is the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord.
Epiphany means “manifestation.” There is a threefold
manifestation of Jesus: 1) to the Magi as recorded in today’s
Gospel; 2) at His Baptism in the Jordan River that we celebrate
next Sunday; and 3) at the marriage feast of Cana. Jesus has
come for all people, as St. Paul reminds us today.
Some might say that the Magi followed a dream when
they followed a star. That dream became a reality when they
found the Lord Jesus. At times, we need to follow dreams so
that they will lead us to Jesus. On their journey, the Magi
encountered difficulties, but they kept on the search. As we
journey through life, we too encounter difficulties, but we
should keep on our search. Even if we get off track, if our
desire is sincere, we will be led to Jesus and find great joy in
our encounter with Him. Follow the star as revealed in Sacred
Scripture and we will find the Lord Jesus.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Epiphany of the LORD

Gospel Passage
Matt. 2:1 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise
men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been
born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay
him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem
with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he
inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem
of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the
land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall
come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod secretly called for
the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8
Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and
when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him
homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them,
went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the
child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed
with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and
they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they
offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a
dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Questions for Discussion:
1. The star helped guide the wise men to Jesus. All of us are meant to be like
that star, so that we bring people to the Lord. How are you doing as a star?
Do you tell your friends about Jesus? Your family?

2. The wise men traveled a very long way to worship Jesus. The same Jesus is present right here, right now in the Eucharist. You live much closer to Church than the
wise men did to Bethlehem. What do you think you should do?

3. Why do you think King Herod wanted to kill Jesus? What was he afraid of?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry