PRAYER REFLECTIONS

Though I command languages both human and angelic — if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. (1 Cor 13:1)

After reflecting on this famous quotation from St Paul, prayerfully examine your conscience. How are you currently responding to God’s command to love?

To help in this examination, study the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, traditional ways Christians have used to express Christian love. If the Spirit prompts you to work more actively at living one of these works, make a positive resolution to do something specific this coming week. Share this resolution with your CG, or check yourself next week to see if you followed through your resolution.

Spiritual Works of Mercy

Corporal Works of Mercy

    Counsel the doubtful
    Feed the hungry
    Instruct the ignorant
    Give drink to the thirsty
    Admonish sinners
    Clothe the naked
    Comfort the afflicted
    Visit the imprisoned
    Forgive offenses
    Shelter the homeless
    Bear wrongs patiently
    Visit the sick
    Pray for the living and the dead
    Bury the dead

BIBLE REFLECTION

Read Lk 10:29-37, the parable of the Good Samaritan

  1. With whose actions and motives do you most closely identify — the priest? The Levite? The Samaritan? Why?

  2. Could you think of some circumstances that might serve as a good reason for the priest or Levite not to get involved? Explain.

 

Closing Prayer

Dearest Father, all of us gathered here are searching for many things in life -- love, respect, wealth, … Some of them are meaningful goals but many others are not. Help us to realize that true happiness lies in following your will and that many things which the world holds in great esteem can never bring us true fulfillment. Amen.

DISCUSSION

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  1. Are you happy today? What’s troubling you? Why?

  2. Early Christians were known by their deeds of love. Followers of Jesus set the Christian apart from non-believers. How has your Christian faith in action distinguished you as a follower of Jesus Christ?

  3. How do the Beatitudes add to the Law as summarized in the Ten Commandments?

  4. How would you respond to these situations?

  1. You notice a classmate eating lunch alone almost everyday.

  2. You see someone being harassed or bullied. (army experiences?)

  3. You read in the paper about a poor family in need of money, food and clothing.

d) While having lunch, your close friends start gossiping about one of your schoolmates.

Discuss:

  1. Could you justify your responses in light of the Beatitudes? Why or why not?

  2. Would you have a greater responsibility to get involved in the first two situations?

Explain.

  1. How does the advice given in the Beatitudes compare with the spirit of the world? Aren’t they completely different from what the world tells us about achieving happiness?

  2. Compare the Beatitudes and the advice given by contemporary self-help gurus like Andrew Matthews (author of ‘How to be Happy’) as well as Depak Chorpa. Any similarities? Any differences?

  3. Is there one Beatitude that particularly challenges you? Why? How can you better live that Beatitude in your daily life?