Family Bible Study - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Passage
Luke 14:1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the
Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 7 When he
noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 8 “When
you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of
honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host;
9 and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person
your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 10 But
when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host
comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the
presence of all who sit at the table with you. 11 For all who exalt themselves will be
humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 12 He said also to the
one who had invited him, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your
friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite
you in return, and you would be repaid. 13 But when you give a banquet, invite the
poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they
cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Questions for discussion -

1. Jesus says those who humble themselves will be exalted, and those who
exalt themselves will be humbled. In general, do you humble yourself or exalt
yourself. Which does Jesus want you to do? What did Jesus do?

2. If we want to be great, Jesus tells us in another part of the Gospel that we
need to fight not over the best seats, but over the “towel” to wash others’ feet.
How hard do you work to serve others humbly, so that Jesus might exalt you.

3. Jesus tells us to take care of those who cannot pay us back in this world, to make
sure that the good we do for others is out of love for others and not just so that we
get something out of it. What types of things can you do to take care of those people
who cannot repay you? What will you try to do this
week?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Humility is truth. It is recognizing what gifts we have.
More importantly, it is recognizing who is the source of these
gifts. God has given us everything; we cannot deny that fact.
When someone compliments us, our response could be: “Thank
you,” and then quietly to the Lord: “Thanks be to you, O God.”
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Sunday Gospel Message - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Jesus offers salvation to all people. It is our belief that
God offers sufficient grace to everyone to be saved. However,
He does not force salvation upon us; we need to respond and to
accept this wondrous gift. The teachings of Jesus are not to be
taken cafeteria-style. We cannot pick and choose what we want
to believe. If Jesus said it, we need to accept it!
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Passage
Luke 13:22 Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he
made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be
saved?” He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I
tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the owner of the house
has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the
door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then in reply he will say to you, ‘I do not know
where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank with you,
and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I do not know where you come
from; go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the
kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. 29 Then people will come from
east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed,
some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Questions for discussion -

1. In response to the question of curiosity about a number to be saved, Jesus
tells us the way to be saved. What does he say we need to do?

2. Jesus says the way to heaven is a “narrow door” and that we’re called to
“strive” or “struggle.” This means that to get into heaven isn’t easy, we have to
conquer ourselves and obey God, not just give into whatever we want. How
hard have you been striving to enter this narrow door? Does everyone get to Heaven or only those who obey God? What about
people who make mistakes but are really sorry later and come to ask God to
forgive them?

3. Jesus says “some who are last [in this world] will be first and some who are
first [in this world] will be last.” This means that there will be surprises at the
gates of Heaven: some people we don’t think will be in heaven will be there;
some who we think will be there, may not be. What can you do to help Jesus
save others?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION
Today, August 15, is the feast of the Assumption of
the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Assumption means that Mary,
at the end of her life here on earth, was “assumed” (taken
into heaven), lest her body undergo corruption. It is a
promise of our being taken into heaven at the end of our
lives. Our faith teaches us that the Lord will raise us up and
take us into heaven where we will enjoy eternal life with our
God, with Mary, and with all the saints and angels.
We gather together on this day to give glory to God
as we honor Mary and commemorate her assumption into
heaven.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence

Family Bible Study - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Gospel Passage
Luke 1:38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me
according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. 39 In those days Mary
set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she
entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard
Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the
Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the
mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your
greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed
that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” 46 And
Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on
all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for
me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to
generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in
the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their
thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and
sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his
mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his
descendants forever.” 56 And Mary remained with her about three months and then
returned to her home.

Questions for discussion -
1. We celebrate today the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
into Heaven. What does this feast mean? Did just Mary’s soul go up to Heaven OR
did her body AND soul go up? Did she go up by her own power or did God take
her
up?

2. What is Mary now doing in Heaven? Do you ever pray to Mary? Do you think
Jesus listens to His mother?

3. What do you think will happen to everyone who follows Mary in loving and
following her Son Jesus?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Family Bible Study - 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel Passage
Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the
kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear
out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 35 “Be dressed for action and have your
lamps lit; 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet,
so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those
slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and
have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle
of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. 39 “But know this: if
the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his
house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an
unexpected hour.” 41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?” 42
And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in
charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that
slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put that
one in charge of all his possessions. 45 But if that slave says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in
coming,’ and if he begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get
drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an
hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put him with the unfaithful. 47
That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was
wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48 But the one who did not know and did what deserved
a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will
be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

Questions for discussion -

1. Jesus tells us in the Gospel to be ready for Him whenever He comes, which
might even be today. How can you can get ready for His coming? (Hint: How can
you be helpful to others?)

2. Jesus says “to whom much has been given, much will be required.” Jesus
has given you many gifts and talents, especially the gift of faith and the
gift of the sacraments. What do you think he wants from you to
thank Him for these gifts?

3. Our money on earth is not needed in Heaven. But, to get to Heaven you must
help others in need on earth first. Are you working for God on earth so you can
earn treasures in Heaven? How are you doing this?
used with permission - Fr. Roger Landry

Sunday Gospel Message - 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
“For where your treasure is, there also will your
heart be.” The question put to us today is” what is important
and what is our spiritual treasure. If the Lord and eternal life
are important treasures, then our hearts will be in everything
that we do. And what we do each day will reflect the Lord
and eternal happiness.
used with permission - Msgr. Bob Lawrence