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Weekly Reflection Videos & Discussions

Week of December 10, 2024 (Second Sunday of Advent)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/lfZixWw6S4c
  2. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NuFeF0Rytx0

Questions for discussion:

  1. Describe some times when you have experienced—or do experience—obstacles, mountains, valleys, rough roads, in your spirituality.
  2. How has God prepared the way for you?
  3. How do you prepare the way for the Lord?

Lectio Divina – Baruch 5:1-9

Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery;

put on forever the splendor of glory from God:

Wrapped in the mantle of justice from God,

place on your head the diadem

of the glory of the Eternal One.

For God will show your splendor to all under the heavens;

you will be named by God forever:

the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.

Rise up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights;

look to the east and see your children

Gathered from east to west

at the word of the Holy One,

rejoicing that they are remembered by God.

Led away on foot by their enemies they left you:

but God will bring them back to you

carried high in glory as on royal thrones.

For God has commanded

that every lofty mountain

and the age-old hills be made low,

That the valleys be filled to make level ground,

that Israel may advance securely in the glory of God.

The forests and every kind of fragrant tree

have overshadowed Israel at God’s command;

For God is leading Israel in joy

by the light of his glory,

with the mercy and justice that are his.

Week of November 10, 2024 (Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_dWTRgZykIc

Questions for discussion:

  1. How do you understand yourself as entrusted to God?
  2. What are some areas where you might be resisting or neglecting entrustment?
  3. How might you entrust yourself to God in specific situations, relationships, etc.?

Lectio Divina – Hebrews 9:24-28

For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf. Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own;

if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world. But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice. Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Week of October 22, 2024 (Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9tpCtBc4yc

Questions for discussion:

  1. Discuss times or situations in which the Lord has called you to serve persons or situations that are unpleasant, difficult, or seemingly impossible.
  2. What are some ways/strategies that we can use to serve when it would be more comfortable not to serve?
  3. Think about how we can better follow the way of Jesus as disciples.

Lectio Divina – Mark 10:42-45

“You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt.

But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;

whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.

For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Week of September 23, 2024 (Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/mGNwBa_qruU
  2. Watch Deacon Jim’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1J1KawvZ6s

Questions for discussion:

  1. Describe a time when you put someone else’s needs above your own or someone put your needs above theirs. How did that make you feel?
  2. How does the scripture from last week’s Gospel “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34&35), relate or tie in with this week’s Gospel “Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)?
  3. Two questions:
    1. Why do you think the disciples found the teaching of Jesus difficult to understand? Why do you think they were afraid to ask him about it? “He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it. (Mark 9:32)
    2. Has God ever spoken something in your heart and you didn’t understand and were afraid to ask?

Week of September 9, 2024 (Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/lfZixWw6S4c
  2. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3HuQRKm7Xw

Questions for discussion:

Jesus said the miraculous word, “Ephphatha!” —that is “Be opened!”

Today is a good time to think of those areas in our lives when maybe we are closed off; maybe we are closed off to God, to others, maybe we are closed off to our own experience in life. Maybe there’s a lot of pain and difficulty that we are struggling with. Maybe we have gotten so caught up in our daily lives that we are not fully open to the miracle that is waiting for us.

This week I’d like you to reflect on those areas where maybe you are closed off, maybe you’re not hearing what you need to hear or seeing what you need to see or saying what you need to say. Look at those areas and ask the Lord to open you ; to open your heart; your mind; your soul, your ears, your eyes, your mouth. Everything that puts you in contact with this world, with others, with God, with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lectio Divina – Isaiah 35:4-7a

Say to the fearful of heart:

Be strong, do not fear!

Here is your God,

he comes with vindication;

With divine recompense

he comes to save you.

Then the eyes of the blind shall see,

and the ears of the deaf be opened;

Then the lame shall leap like a stag,

and the mute tongue sing for joy.

For waters will burst forth in the wilderness,

and streams in the Arabah.

The burning sands will become pools,

and the thirsty ground, springs of water.

Week of August 26, 2024 (Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/S9esLKFAT5s
  2. Watch Deacon Jim’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSTbJl0EAHU

Questions for discussion:

  1. If you look and the entire Bread of Life discourse—that would be John 6:24-69—what were the specific teachings that Jesus offered to his followers that cause them to leave?
    • Was there one specific teaching that bothered them the most or do you think it was the whole message together that created this discomfort?
    • A sub-question to that is, why do you think that Jesus didn’t try to stop these people from leaving?
    • Why did he just let them go without offering some type of words that would have them continue to stay? What do you think happened to the people who left?
  2. What type of choices do we make every day that help us follow Christ more closely?
    • Or what type of choices can we make every day the at will help us follow Christ more closely or deepen our relationship with him?
    • Sometimes we fail to make good choices with regards to our walk with Christ and what can we do to minimize those occasions?
  3. In the Gospel message this weekend, there were two groups of people; there were followers and these were people who decided to leave, and there was a group that decided to stay and we call this group the believers. We have both followers and believers in our Church today. What can we do today to help a follower become a believer?

Lectio Divina – John 6:60-69

The Words of Eternal Life.

60Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”

61Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you?

62What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

63It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh* is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

64But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.

65And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

66As a result of this, many [of] his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.

67Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”

68Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

69We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Week of August 12, 2024 (Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBDt3Vhhw84
  2. Watch Fr. George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybDn0fZWVvg

Questions for discussion:

  1. Reflect on the areas of your life where you feel that you are hanging around in the material realm; you are focused more on what I need to today; what I want today; what’s happening today. Begin thinking about some areas where maybe God is calling you forward into a more spiritual, eternal frame of mind.
  2. Are there certain ways that God is calling you today? How do you think that you might be able to answer that call, by going deeper into your spiritual life and go forward towards the Lord?

Lectio Divina – Ephesians 4:30-5:2

And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.

All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.

[And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.

So be imitators of God, as beloved children,

and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.

Week of July 22, 2024 (Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/1sQXCiwQqCs
  2. Watch Fr. George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOdUSs1995Y

Question for discussion:

  1. What are the things that you feel that you need from your shepherds? From the Church? From your parish? From your Pastor at St. Stephen? Reflect on the things that you feel you need to live your Christian faith. To live your baptismal promises.
  2. We also talked about how those qualities of the Pastor are not only for the actual Pastor, but for all of us, from our baptism are given some sort of role of pastoring or shepherding others. What is it that you feel like you need to be doing; what qualities do you need to employ in your life in the parish, in your family, at work, within your sphere of influence?
  3. Think about how you need to be a good shepherd and how you need to shepherd others. This can help us all to grow in our vocations. Remember what I said in the homily, before we can be shepherds, we have to be sheep. So we have to know what it is that we need and then we have to know what it is that we need to give to others.

Lectio Divina – Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd;

there is nothing I lack.

In green pastures he makes me lie down;

to still waters he leads me;

he restores my soul.

He guides me along right paths

for the sake of his name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff comfort me.

 

You set a table before me

in front of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me

all the days of my life;

I will dwell in the house of the LORD

for endless days.

Week of July 8, 2024 (Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/VzcAjPNN45Q
  2. Watch Deacon Jim’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBH26wD5wzM

Question for discussion:

  1. Fr. Bob mentioned in his homily that we have the choice of being a cynic or of being more hopeful. Can someone who has chosen to be a cynic still be a good Catholic? If so, how? If not, why not?1A Follow up. Think of a time in your life when you have been more cynical and of a time in your life when you have been filled with more hope? What was it that triggered you to go down either one of these paths?
  2. In 2 Corinthians 12:10 Paul says, “Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” What do think that Paul means when he says, “for when I am weak, then I am strong.”2A Follow up. Have you ever had a time in your life when for whatever the reason you found yourself being weak, but yet you were still strong? Can you share that experience with the group?
  3. Looking at all three of the readings, we learn of somebody dealing with tragedy or personal difficulties. When you have dealt with adversity in the past, how have you responded to that adversity? Here’s the important piece of the question. If you were to face that same type of adversity today, would you respond differently that you did previously? If so, why? Is it because of faith has grown, or is it because your faith has become less strong?

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Lectio Divina – Mark 6:1-6 (See the verses above)

Week of June 24, 2024 (Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/Mz-aViAPT7k
  2. Watch Deacon Jim’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otIzfvAxujY

Question for reflection:

  1. Share a time in your life when God calmed a storm in your life or helped you to get through the storm. How did this experience impact your faith?
  2. From the second reading, 2 Corinthians 5:14-17.                                                                                                                                                            Brothers and sisters:The love of Christ impels us,
    once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;
    therefore, all have died.
    He indeed died for all,
    so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
    but for him who for their sake died and was raised.Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;
    even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
    yet now we know him so no longer.
    So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
    the old things have passed away;
    behold, new things have come.What does it mean to you to no longer live for yourself, but to live for Christ?
  3. Looking back on your faith development over your life, who was the person, the catalyst, who planted the first seeds of faith in you that have grown to the point of your current faith?

Lectio Divina – 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 (See the verses above)

Week of June 10, 2024 (Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/zCVXfRRZ95g
  2. Watch Fr. George’s video: https://youtu.be/TNBXI5xQMzw

Question for reflection:

Reflect on your experiences of being bound with something.  Not necessarily a great big experience of possession. But just being bound by experiences of sin, or hard feelings or bad experiences or hurtful memories. Things that keep us bound and away from our Lord. We need to look at these and ask the Lord to come in and unbind us and to bind Satan in our lives. We can pray for this. We can ask to come in and remove the influences of evil in our lives.

 

  • This week I want to ask you to think about the power of Satan in our lives and think about the even greater power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Think of those times when you have experienced liberation from times when you felt oppressed by the evil one.
  • Think about those times where Jesus has come into your life and changed you for the better and brought you closer to him.

 

Lectio Divina: 

2 Corinthians 4:13-16

 Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we too believe and therefore speak, knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God. Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

 

 

Week of May 27, 2024 (Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/eA96govit1M
  2. Watch Fr. George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP2FjsApxSk

Question for reflection:

We need to look for times in our lives where we can give that Self giving, self forgetting, self emptying love to others. This week I’d like for you to reflect on that love in your life.

  • Where have you done acts of forgiveness?
  • Where have you done acts of self-forgetting love and give your love to another?
  • What are some struggles that you might have in this area?
  • Where are some opportunities that present themselves to you on a pretty regular basis?

If we learn to love the way that Jesus taught us to love, we are entering into the love of the Holy Trinity. Let’s reflect on that love today and let’s put it into action in our lives

Lectio Divina: Romans 8:14-17

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!”

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

Week of May 13, 2024 (Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJjoX1_MdtM
  2. Watch Fr. George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjLyOiO5fFk
  3. Lectio Divina: Ephesians 4:1-13

Unity in the Body.

I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Diversity of Gifts.

But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore, it says: “He ascended on high and took prisoners captive; he gave gifts to men.” What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended into the lower [regions] of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ.

Question for reflection:

  • How are we making present our Lord Jesus Christ on this earth and how are we preparing ourselves for the gift of eternal life?

Week of April 22, 2024 (4th Sunday of Easter)

Gospel Reading: John 10:11-18

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4hmeruhhzI

Question for discussion:

  1. Discuss how, during Jesus’ ministry, he demonstrated the three characteristics of leading from the front, leading from within and leading from behind? What examples can you recite from Scripture that show these types of leadership?
  2. Which shepherd do you relate to the best? The shepherd that leads from the front, the shepherd that leads from within the group or the shepherd that leads from behind, who has your back if you are falling behind?

Lectio Divina: Psalm 23

Pray for vocations that we discussed this past weekend and for those making their first Communion this coming weekend.

Week of April 8, 2024 (2nd Sunday of Easter)

Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsVdAYi9jVk

Question for discussion:

  • Are you seeing Jesus with that spiritual sense? Do you see him? Do you touch him? Do you speak to him spiritually?
  • Is it difficult for me to believe in him without seeing?
  • Can you open my mind and my heart to seeing the Lord without having him physically present?

Lectio Divina: 1 Peter 1:6-9

In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of [your] faith, the salvation of your souls.

Week of March 11, 2024 (4th Sunday of Lent)

Gospel Reading (Year A): John 9:1-41

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RhI5JCHS8Y

Question for discussion:

Reflect on those areas where we have moved from darkness into light. From maybe not knowing something to growing in our faith. Being able to see, not with our eyes, but with our heart and mind. Where have we grown in that ability? How are we seeing Jesus are work in our lives? How are we coming into the light?

Lectio Divina: Ephesians 5:8-16

Reflect on; meditate on the movement into light. The light of faith, the light of belief. The light of the resurrection that we look forward to after the darkness of Lent, and at the bright celebration of Easter.

Ephesians 5:8-16

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light,

for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.

Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them,

for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret;

but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,

for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will give you light.”

Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise,

making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.

Week of February 26, 2024 (2nd Sunday of Lent)

Gospel Reading: Mark 9:2-10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06YO_SUMqSE

Question for discussion:

Think about what there is in your life; think about who you are; what you do; what you have and how that can be a sacrifice to God.

Lectio Divina: Philippians 2:1-11

Read these verses carefully and prayerfully. This gives us some insight into Christ offering of himself and how we are supposed to model the mind of Christ; the very being of Christ; in our lives.

During this time of Lent, let us make an offering of our lives as the 3rd Eucharistic prayer says, may he make of us an eternal offering to you.

Week of February 12, 2024 (6th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Gospel Reading: Mark 1:40-45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rHS2oO6z4A

Questions for discussion:

Reflect on coming to the Lord with your deepest desires; your deepest needs and your deepest suffering; coming to the Lord in prayer from the depth of who you are. Have you done this previously? Have you done this in your daily prayer? Have you had the experience of Jesus’ deep compassion, his deep care, his desire to heal us?

Lectio Divina: Matthew 11:18-20

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Week of January 21, 2024 (3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Gospel Reading: Mark 1:14-20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_wF63ylmkU

Themes

Repentance – See the areas in our life where we are not living up to our calling or we are not staying close to our Lord Jesus and where we are turning away from God and we turn back to him.

Conversion –  that we have a deep experience of that repentance, not just changing particular behavior, but that our thoughts, our heart, our mind, our soul experience a slow turning to the Lord.

We are called to Follow the Lord

Questions:

  1. Reflect on the 3 themes (Repentance, Conversion and following the Lord) as they are lived out in your own personal life.
  2. What have been the challenges that you’ve found in these areas?
  3. What are areas where you see real growth?
  4. What are the areas where you feel a real joy in being closer to the Lord?

Lectio Divina: Mark 1:14-20 –

  1. Pay particular attention of how God is calling the Apostles.
  2. How is God calling us now? What is it that he is calling us to?
  3. What is it that we need to leave behind so that we can follow God along the way?
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