Gospel Reading from Mass: May 31, 2009

John 20:19-23 -- On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

Observation Questions:
• What happened on the first day of the week?
• Why were the doors locked?
• What did Jesus say to the disciples? What did Jesus show them?
• Why did Jesus breathe on the disciples? Why did he do it?
• What did Jesus say about forgiveness?

Application Questions:
• Why do you think Jesus visited the disciples?
• Why did Jesus say “Peace be with you”?
• Why do you think the disciples were afraid of the Jews?
• Why did Jesus want the disciples to see his hands and side?
• What did Jesus send the disciples to do?
• What gift did Jesus leave with the disciples?
• Are your sins forgiven or do you continue to hold on to them?

Gospel Reading from Mass: May 24, 2009

Mark 16:15-20 -- He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Observation Questions:
• What command did Jesus give the disciples?
• What happens to the person who believes? The one who does not believe?
• What kind of signs did Jesus talk about?
• What happened after Jesus finished speaking with his disciples?
• What did the disciples do after Jesus’ ascension?

Application Questions:
• What does it mean to believe?
• According to these verses, when should a person be baptized?
• Why does Jesus tell them about signs that accompany the believers?
• The disciples responded to Jesus directions by going out to preach about Jesus everywhere. How do you respond to Jesus?

Gospel Reading from Mass: May 17th, 2009

John 15:9-17 -- "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.

Observation Questions:
• How can we remain in Christ’s love?
• What command did Jesus give? Why?
• What does great love look like?
• When are we friends of Jesus?

Application Questions:
• What can we learn about the relationship that Jesus has with the Father?
• What is the difference between servant and friend?
• What kind characteristics does a friend have?
• Is there who would give their life for you?
• Could you say that you are a friend of Jesus? If so, how did it happen? If not, how can you have that kind of relationship?
• What does it mean to love each other? Is there a practical way to have this kind of love in our lives?

Gospel Reading from May 10th, 2009

John 15:1-8 -- "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Observation Questions:
• What is Jesus compare himself to in this text? To what does he compare the Father?
• Who are the branches and what happens to them? What is their task or purpose?
• What is the purpose of removing unproductive branches and pruning the others?
• What promise does Jesus make to those who remain in him? What happens to those who do not?
• What is the purpose of bearing abundant fruit?

Application Questions:
• What does it mean to remain in Jesus?
• What does it mean to produce fruit? How can we produce good fruit in our lives?
• Do you have good fruit in your life?
• What does the fire and the burning represent? What does it mean?
• In what way can we be disciples or followers of Christ?

Gospel Reading from Mass: May 3rd, 2009

John 10:11-18 -- "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

Observation Questions:
• What did Jesus call himself?
• What kind of characteristics does a good shepherd have?
• Who is the hired hand? Who are the sheep? Who is the wolf?
• How do the sheep respond to the shepherd?
• I what way does Jesus lay down his life? What kind of power does he have?
• What command did Jesus receive and from whom?

Application Questions:
• Why so sheep need a shepherd? What do the wolf and hired hand represent in today’s time? Do you need direction and leadership in your life?
• Are you a sheep belonging to the good shepherd? Explain your answer.
• What kind of proof did Jesus give us to show his love?
• What can we learn from the relationship between the Father and the Son?