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Here is what is needed 10/24/16:
We will prepare with Opening the Word. Please
- read the readings for this Sunday, then
- watch the corresponding episode
- and e-mail me your answers to the following questions:
- Why does "God hear the cry of the poor"? In what manner should we approach God and our faith?
- Why is humility key in growing in a relationship with our Lord? What are some practical ways we can grow in humility?
- Take about 20 minutes in silence to complete the following spiritual exercise (for assignments such as this, I will not ask for you to e-mail me your answers as this is very personal. I do suggest you getting a journal for you to use to jot down your notes and thoughts for assignments like this):
- Place yourself in the Temple scene of today’s Gospel reading. You see the Pharisee standing at the front and hear him tell God about his accomplishments. Then you notice the tax collector and hear him simply admit his weaknesses to God. Which one do you sympathize with? Which one do you feel the most in common with? Now invite the Holy Spirit to join you. Ask the Spirit to show you an area in your life that you are afraid to let him see. It’s ironic—he sees it already, but we can spend all kinds of energy trying to hide it, even acting as if it isn’t even there. Our anger, our struggle trusting God, our resentment about a past injury or wound, our struggle with selfishness, insecurity, or lust. Pray that God would help you see an area like this in your life, in your heart. And ask for the grace to let him into it. Now, imagine that it is your turn to pray with the Pharisee and tax collector. Where do you stand? What do you say? How do you feel?