Term 4 Week 38 |
18 - 24 NOVEMBER
ORDINARY TIME |
Sunday
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33rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
MARK 13:24-32 Gospel Reflection At first glance, the readings for this week don't seem to make a lot of sense. However, if we go back to the context of the text, the readings suddenly take on a new meaning. The people of Israel had suffered under the hands of so many different ruling powers of their time and they longed for a new world to come into being. The reading from the book of Daniel predicts that a great prince and guardian of the people will come. As we come close to Advent, the Church has selected readings that remind us of the great vision the Jewish people had for the world, and their longing and hope for that time when a new world, God's dream, will emerge. The themes of this week lend themselves to journal writing. Create a special notebook for this week and call it 'My prayer journal'. Day 1: God, in my life I long for... (keep writing until you come to a natural conclusion). Image from Pixabay. No attribution required. |
Monday
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Journal Writing and Prayer
The blind man sat by the road and shouted for Jesus to notice him. "Lord, please let me see", he asked, with great faith. Journal writing Day 2: Today, write in the form of a script. Begin with your name and ask Jesus about your blindness. Write what you think Jesus would say in response. Then write what you would respond back to Jesus. Keep going, until the dialogue reaches a natural conclusion. Read the dialogue. What do you notice? Amazing insights can come through this process. Sam: Jesus, in what ways am I blind? Jesus: ….. Sam: ….. Jesus: …. Image from Pixabay. No attribution required. |
Tuesday
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Journal Writing and Scripture
Luke 19:1-10 The readings today challenge us to think about how we really want to live in the world. How does God call us to be with one another? What type of a person have we become? Journal writing Day 3: God, I think you call me to live as a person who... (Non-stop writing for 5 minutes and then read over it and see what new insights have emerged.) Image from Pixabay. No attribution required. |
Wednesday
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The Samaritan
Today we find the story of a Samaritan, an outsider, being the one to be gracious enough to express his gratitude for healing. Which character am I in the story, at the moment? Am I the one so busy trying to get my needs met that I forget about my impact on others? Am I the one doing the healing to those around me? Am I the one who remembers to be gracious, and genuinely thanks others for the positive contribution they make in my life? Journal writing Day 4: God, sometimes I forget to say thank you, but today I want to thank you for... (Write for 5 minutes to name all the blessings, the times for which you are grateful and the moments for which you want to give thanks.) Image from Pixabay. No attribution required. |
Thursday
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A World without Suffering ?
Luke 19:41-44 Today there are more readings about a vision for when all suffering is gone and God's dream for the world can come into being. Today we also remember the story of St Cecilia, the patron saint of music, who used her gifts to pray and teach others about God, doing her part to bring about a world of peace and goodness. Journal writing Day 5: God, what is your dream for our world and how could I help to bring this about? Image from Pixabay. No attribution required. |
Friday
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Courage
Luke 19:45-48 In the Gospel today Jesus takes an incredibly strong stand and drives out those who have turned the temple into a commercial centre. No wonder Jesus made enemies. Living the way God calls people to live is tough. Bringing about God's dream can be so challenging. People like St Columban found a way to live God's dream so authentically. Journal writing Day 6: Jesus, what would you not stand for if you lived here today? God, what do you call me to speak out against? Spirit of God, I pray for the courage to... Image from Pixabay. No attribution required. |
