Gospel Reading from Mass: August 30, 2009

Mk 7:1-8; 14-15; 21-23 -- 1The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and 2saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed. 3(The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) 5So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with `unclean' hands?" 6He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: " `These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.' 8You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." …. 14Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15Nothing outside a man can make him `unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him `unclean.' " …. 21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man `unclean.' "

Observation:

• Who gathered around Jesus?
• What were Jesus’ disciples doing?
• What did the Pharisees and the teachers of the law ask Jesus? How did he answer them?
• What makes person unclean?

Application:

• Why were the Pharisees and the teachers of the law concerned with cleanliness?
• What does it mean to be unclean?
• Where does uncleanliness come from?
• What kind of cleanliness is Jesus concerned with?
• How can we be clean?

Gospel Reading from Mass: August 23, 2009

John 6:54; 60-69 -- 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. …. 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" 61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 64Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him." 66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. 67"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. 68Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

Observation:

• What about the teaching was hard to accept?
• What did Jesus know about the disciples?
• Who can come to the Son? In what way?
• When did some disciples leave Jesus?
• What did Jesus ask his 12 disciples when many followers turned away? What was their response?

Application:

• Why do you think that the disciples grumbling?
• What did Jesus mean when he said the words he was speaking were spirit and life?
• Did Jesus mean that a person should actually eat his flesh and drink his blood?
• Why did many of Jesus’ followers stop following him?
• Why did Peter say Jesus has the words of eternal life? What does that mean?

Gospel Reading from Mass: August 16, 2009

John 6:51-58 -- 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." 52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever."

Observation:

• What did Jesus say about himself?
• Why were the Jews confused?
• What did Jesus say about himself?
• Who sent Jesus to the world?
• What kind of bread was Jesus talking about?

Application:

• What did Jesus mean when he said that he would give his flesh for the life of the world?
• What does the term “the last day” mean to you?
• What kind of life is Jesus talking about in verse 53?
• How can a person eat and drink Jesus? What did he mean when he said this?

Gospel Reading from Mass: August 9, 2009

John 6:41-51 -- 41At this, the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." 42They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, `I came down from heaven'?" 43"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. 44"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets: `They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

Observation:

• Why were the Jews grumbling against Jesus?
• What did Jesus say in response to their grumbling?
• What did Jesus say about himself?
• Who has seen the Father?
• What is the bread of life?

Application:

• Why did the crowds respond negatively to Jesus?
• What kind of everlasting life is Jesus talking about?
• What did Jesus mean when he said “I am the bread of life?”
• How can you eat the bread of life? Why will it give you eternal life?
• What did Jesus mean when he said he would give his life for the world?
• In your opinion, do you think it is possible to have eternal life?

Gospel Reading from Mass: August 2, 2009

John 6:24-35 -- 24Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. 25When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" 26Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." 28Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" 29Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." 30So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: `He gave them bread from heaven to eat.' " 32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." 34"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." 35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

Observation:

• Where did the crowd find Jesus? Why were the people looking for Jesus?
• What did Jesus tell the people they should work for?
• What question did the people ask Jesus? How did the people respond?
• What did Jesus tell the people about bread?

Application:

• Why were the people following Jesus?
• Why should people follow Jesus today?
• Are you searching for Jesus? Why are you seeking him?
• According to Jesus, why should a person seek for him?
• What did Jesus mean when he said he was “The bread of life?”
• What kind of hunger and thirst is Jesus talking about?