December 21 & 28

Week of Dec. 21, 2008 {4th Sunday of Advent}
Week Off – Enjoy the Christmas Season!!

Week of Dec. 28, 2008 {Feast of the Holy Family}
Week Off – Enjoy the Christmas Season!!

Week Three 12/14/08: Mark Chapter Three

Chapter of Mark to be read: Chapter Three
Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+3

Reflect specifically upon:

Mark 3: 13-19 (NRSV)

¹⁴¹⁵¹⁶He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); ¹⁷¹⁸¹⁹James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

and

Mark 3: 31-34 (NRSV)
³²³³³⁴Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.’ And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers!

Read the entire third chapter of Mark at http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=mark+3


Please share your response to the following reflection questions:

• Why did Jesus call such ordinary guys?
  What motivates you to follow to Jesus now? (Mark 3: 13-19)

• Why was Jesus’ family worried about him?
  What did Jesus say was the basis for a family relationship with him?
  Is doing God’s will an action or a belief? (Mark 3: 31-34)

Week Two 12/07/08: Mark Chapter Two

Mark, Chapter 2:1-12 (NAB)

When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Child, your sins are forgiven."

Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?"

Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth"-- he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."

Read the entire second chapter of Mark at http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/mark/mark2.htm

Please share your response to the following reflection questions based on Mark 2: 1-12

• What would you be seeing and feeling if you were in this crowd?
• In what ways is sin like paralysis? What freedoms has Jesus' forgiveness given to you?
• In what areas do you need forgiveness now?