Gospel Reading from Mass: July 19, 2009

Mark 6:30-34 – 30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Observation:

• What did the apostles do?
• Where did Jesus take the twelve?
• What happened when people saw Jesus and the disciples leaving?
• What happened when Jesus saw the large crowd?

Application:

• Why did Jesus want the twelve to rest after their work?
• Why do you think God is concerned about our rest?
• Why do you think Jesus had compassion on the people?
• What characteristics does a good shepherd have?
• What does it mean to be without a shepherd?
• Do you need a shepherd?

Gospel Reading from Mass: July 12, 2009

Mark 6:7-13 – 7Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits. 8These were his instructions: "Take nothing for the journey except a staff--no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. 10Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them." 12They went out and preached that people should repent. 13They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Observation:

• What did Jesus instruct his twelve disciples to do?
• What did he tell the disciples to do if they were not welcomed?
• What did the disciples preach to the people?
• What else did they do to the people?

Application:

• Why do you think Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs?
• Why do you think Jesus gave the disciples directions about what to wear and what to bring along with them?
• Why do you think Jesus gave the disciples directions about what to do in place where they are not welcomed?
• What does it mean to repent? Why were the disciples preaching?
• What happened in the places where the disciples preached?

Gospel Reading from Mass: July 5, 2009

Mark 6:1-6 – 1Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! 3Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.

Observation:

• Where did Jesus travel to?
• On what day was he teaching?
• Why were the people amazed?
• Why were people offended at Jesus’ teaching?
• What was Jesus amazed about?

Application:

• What did people say about Jesus?
• Where do you think Jesus’ wisdom came from?
• What kind of response did Jesus receive in Nazareth? Why?
• Why do you think familiarity with Jesus prohibited the people of his hometown from seeing Jesus for who he really was?
• Why do you think the peoples’ lack of faith seemed to have an effect on what Jesus could do there?
• Do you think that your faith or lack of faith in Christ affects his ability to work in your own life?

Gospel Reading from Mass: June 28, 2009

Mk 5:21-43 – When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue rulers, named Jairus, came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed." Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" "You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, `Who touched me?' " But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?" Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Observation:
• What happened after Jesus crossed over to the other side of the lake?
• Who came to see Jesus? What was his request? What did Jesus do?
• What happened while Jesus was on the way to Jairus’ home?
• What was Jesus’ response to the women who touched his clothes? What happened to that women and her illness?
• What happened in Jairus’ home?
• What was Jesus’ final command to the family?

Application:
• Why do you think the large crowd gathered and followed Jesus?
• What does it mean to have faith in Jesus?
• Why was the women healed? Why was the little girl raised?
• What is the connection between healing and faith?
• What kind of power did Jesus display in this story? Do you need this kind of faith in your life?
• Why do you think Jesus told the people not to let anyone know what had happened?
• You may not be sick or near death today but what is happening in your life that Jesus could touch?

Gospel Reading from Mass: June 21, 2009

Mk 4:35-41 – That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Observation:
• What happened when evening came?
• What happened after the boat left the shore? What was Jesus doing?
• What did the disciples do when the storm hit? What did they ask Jesus?
• What was Jesus response to the disciple’s request? What happened to the storm?
• What did Jesus ask the disciples? What did the disciples ask each other?

Application:
• Have you ever been in a serious storm? How did you feel?
• Why do you think Jesus was so calm, even sleeping in the storm?
• Why were the disciples so upset?
• What does Jesus’ display of power over the storm tell us about him?
• Why were the disciples terrified about the storms’ response to Jesus?
• Are there storms in your life that Jesus could calm for you? Do you need his power in your life?
• How would you respond to the disciples question: “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him?” How does your answer show your attitude towards Jesus?

Gospel Reading from Mass: June 14, 2009

Mk 4:26-34 – He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade." With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Observation:
• What is this story about? (vs. 26)
• What happens to the seed in this story? What happens to the mustard seed in this story?
• What is the kingdom of God like?
• How did Jesus teach the people?
• How did Jesus teach the disciples?

Application:
• What is the kingdom of God?
• What is a parable? Why did Jesus speak in parables to the crowd?
• Why did he wait until he was alone to explain their meaning to the disciples?
• What can we learn about the kingdom of God from these parables?
• Are you ready for this time of harvest? (Compare with Matt. 13:38-43)
• It seemed difficult for the crowd and the disciples to understand what Jesus was teaching. What do you do when you don’t understand something from scripture?

Gospel Reading from Mass: June 7, 2009

Mt 28:16-20 -- Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Observation:
• Where were the eleven disciples?
• What did they do when they saw Jesus?
• What did Jesus tell the eleven disciples?
• What was the last thing Jesus said?

Application:
• Why did the eleven disciples go to the mountain in Galilee?
• Why did the disciples worship Jesus? Why do you think some doubted?
• Why do you think Jesus gave the disciples these directions? Are these directions applicable to us in today’s times?
• Who did Jesus say should be baptized?
• What does it mean to go and make disciples? How should new believers be baptized?
• What should a new believer be taught? Where can these teachings be found?
• Is it important that Jesus is always with us? Why?