May 11, 2008
Pentecost Sunday (Solemnity)
Reading 1 Reflection :
When the Baptism of Jesus is described in the gospel, the Holy Spirit is pictured as a dove. But if the disciples in the upper room were expecting Jesus' promised Spirit to come as a dove, they had a big surprise in store! On that first Pentecost, the Spirit came as a powerful wind that blew all the disciples' fears out the window. The Spirit came as glowing tongues of fire that "lit a fire" in their hearts. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples went out to speak of God's mighty deeds.
Discussion Questions for Reading 1:
Sometimes our expectations get in the way of the Spirit. The prophet Elijah, in the Old Testament, was expecting the Spirit to be loud, like thunder. Instead, the Spirit came to him as a whisper of God's love and care. Sometimes we expect something to happen, and then it doesn't, and we are disappointed.
It is good then to remember an old spiritual saying, "When God closes a door, he opens a window." Have you ever experienced this? How can we find the window to the Holy Spirit in times of disappointment? How can you share this faith with others and encourage them in times of disappointment? Reading 1 -->
Reading 2 Reflection :
What is the work of the Holy Spirit? Paul's letter explains it clearly and beautifully. The Spirit gives us a great variety of gifts and enables us to use them for one united purpose. These gifts are given to each person. No one is left out. Everyone has something to contribute. Each one of us can help build up the body of Christ into which we have been baptized.
Discussion Questions for Reading 2 :
Have you ever heard the legend of Our Lady's juggler? Once a young man joined a monastery. Before he decided to give his life to God's service in the monastery, he had been a juggler. It was the custom in that monastery to celebrate one of the great feasts of Our Lady by giving her a gift of some kind. The monk who could write composed a poem. The artist monk painted a beautiful picture. The monk who gardened arranged a bouquet. The new monk did not know what he could do.
He wasn't good at anything, except juggling. He was ashamed to give this gift?what good was juggling, after all? But very early on the day of Our Lady's feast, while it was still dark, he quietly borrowed three oranges from the kitchen. Then he crept into the chapel. "Forgive me, Mary," he said. "I do not have much, but what I have, I give you." And he began to juggle the oranges. He threw them up, around, behind his back, and never missed catching them once! Juggling always made him happy, and he hoped that Our Lady was happy, too. The abbot, the head of the monastery, happened to be praying in the chapel.
He watched the young monk as he juggled, and when he had finished, the abbot said to him, "Little Brother, thank you for your gift. You have brought joy to Our Lady and to this house. Be ready to juggle for everyone at the feast today." How did the newest monk build up the body of Christ? What gift do you have? How does it build up the body of Christ? How can it help your family, your school, or your parish? If you do not know, perhaps the other members of the body (your group members) will help you discover ways to use your gift!
Gospel Reflection :
John's Gospel pictures Jesus breathing the gift of his Spirit on the disciples. It is Easter night and they are hiding behind locked doors out of fear of their enemies. Jesus calms them with his peace. He gives them the power to give peace to others by forgiving their sins. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you," Jesus says.
Discussion Questions for Gospel:
Mission is a very important word. We sometimes connect this word to working in foreign countries, but that is not all it means. The sisters in some religious communities refer to their places of work as "going on their mission." The Latin ending of the Mass was, "Ite, missa est"?"Go, you are sent." Mission and Mass have the same Latin root of missa. Now we say, "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
" Loving and serving is what mission, being sent by Jesus, is all about. And we each have a mission in life. We are each sent by Jesus to do loving service right where we are. What do you believe Jesus is sending you to do in this time of your life? You might like to put it into words. "Jesus sends me forth to ______________________." How can you keep this sense of mission alive in you each day?
Reflection by: CYBERFAITH
"Catholic resources for people of Faith"
Pentecost Sunday (Solemnity)
Reading 1 Reflection :
When the Baptism of Jesus is described in the gospel, the Holy Spirit is pictured as a dove. But if the disciples in the upper room were expecting Jesus' promised Spirit to come as a dove, they had a big surprise in store! On that first Pentecost, the Spirit came as a powerful wind that blew all the disciples' fears out the window. The Spirit came as glowing tongues of fire that "lit a fire" in their hearts. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples went out to speak of God's mighty deeds.
Discussion Questions for Reading 1:
Sometimes our expectations get in the way of the Spirit. The prophet Elijah, in the Old Testament, was expecting the Spirit to be loud, like thunder. Instead, the Spirit came to him as a whisper of God's love and care. Sometimes we expect something to happen, and then it doesn't, and we are disappointed.
It is good then to remember an old spiritual saying, "When God closes a door, he opens a window." Have you ever experienced this? How can we find the window to the Holy Spirit in times of disappointment? How can you share this faith with others and encourage them in times of disappointment? Reading 1 -->
Reading 2 Reflection :
What is the work of the Holy Spirit? Paul's letter explains it clearly and beautifully. The Spirit gives us a great variety of gifts and enables us to use them for one united purpose. These gifts are given to each person. No one is left out. Everyone has something to contribute. Each one of us can help build up the body of Christ into which we have been baptized.
Discussion Questions for Reading 2 :
Have you ever heard the legend of Our Lady's juggler? Once a young man joined a monastery. Before he decided to give his life to God's service in the monastery, he had been a juggler. It was the custom in that monastery to celebrate one of the great feasts of Our Lady by giving her a gift of some kind. The monk who could write composed a poem. The artist monk painted a beautiful picture. The monk who gardened arranged a bouquet. The new monk did not know what he could do.
He wasn't good at anything, except juggling. He was ashamed to give this gift?what good was juggling, after all? But very early on the day of Our Lady's feast, while it was still dark, he quietly borrowed three oranges from the kitchen. Then he crept into the chapel. "Forgive me, Mary," he said. "I do not have much, but what I have, I give you." And he began to juggle the oranges. He threw them up, around, behind his back, and never missed catching them once! Juggling always made him happy, and he hoped that Our Lady was happy, too. The abbot, the head of the monastery, happened to be praying in the chapel.
He watched the young monk as he juggled, and when he had finished, the abbot said to him, "Little Brother, thank you for your gift. You have brought joy to Our Lady and to this house. Be ready to juggle for everyone at the feast today." How did the newest monk build up the body of Christ? What gift do you have? How does it build up the body of Christ? How can it help your family, your school, or your parish? If you do not know, perhaps the other members of the body (your group members) will help you discover ways to use your gift!
Gospel Reflection :
John's Gospel pictures Jesus breathing the gift of his Spirit on the disciples. It is Easter night and they are hiding behind locked doors out of fear of their enemies. Jesus calms them with his peace. He gives them the power to give peace to others by forgiving their sins. "As the Father has sent me, so I send you," Jesus says.
Discussion Questions for Gospel:
Mission is a very important word. We sometimes connect this word to working in foreign countries, but that is not all it means. The sisters in some religious communities refer to their places of work as "going on their mission." The Latin ending of the Mass was, "Ite, missa est"?"Go, you are sent." Mission and Mass have the same Latin root of missa. Now we say, "Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
" Loving and serving is what mission, being sent by Jesus, is all about. And we each have a mission in life. We are each sent by Jesus to do loving service right where we are. What do you believe Jesus is sending you to do in this time of your life? You might like to put it into words. "Jesus sends me forth to ______________________." How can you keep this sense of mission alive in you each day?
Reflection by: CYBERFAITH
"Catholic resources for people of Faith"
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