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Community for the Kingdom small groups meet regularly in a family home to read, listen, pray, reflect, and share ways God's Word relates to our everyday lives.
Groups are welcome to choose their own Scripture passages to break open together. If you are not picking your own readings, we suggest going with one of the readings for that coming Sunday when you meet. It does not have to be the Gospel. Optional reflections and optional discussion questions for your meeting based on the readings for the coming Sundays are below. See the revised steps for where this can fit in the process.
Sunday Readings can be found here: https://bible.usccb.org/
Reflections and Questions
Sundays in May 2022:
May 8 - Fourth Sunday of Easter
Acts 13:14, 43-52; Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5; Rev 7:9, 14b-17; Jn 10:27-30
A FORETASTE OF PARADISE
Throughout Easter Time, the Church rejoices with Jesus, risen from the dead. Our readings on this Fourth Sunday of Easter celebrate our instinct to come together in joy, worshiping in church. While private prayer nourishes our individual relationship with the Lord, community prayer is a foretaste of paradise. The book of Revelation depicts a “great multitude” worshiping God “day and night in his temple.” Our churches on Easter Sunday often reflect this happy multitude, filling the pews to bursting. Four Sundays into the festive season, we are encouraged to keep praising God together. In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Barnabas demonstrate their instinct to worship with their faith community each Sabbath, dutifully taking their seats in the synagogue. In the Gospel, Jesus calls us his sheep and reminds us why coming together as a flock is so important: uniting in community, we imitate the unity of God.
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.1.) Do I see Mass as an act of worship? In what ways can we approach Mass more worshipfully?
2.) What are the praiseworthy characteristicts of our God?
3.) Why is it important to praise and worship God together and not only individually?
May 15 - Fifth Sunday of Easter
Acts 14:21-27; Ps 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13; Rev 21:1-5a; Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35
MAKING ALL THINGS NEW
Although we are five full weeks into the celebration of Easter, today’s readings focus on newness. Our Easter food leftovers may be long gone, but the readings insist on every moment’s freshness in the risen Jesus. The Acts of the Apostles depicts Paul and Barnabas reflecting on all the innovative work that God has done with them. They have traveled hundreds of miles, introducing faith in Jesus Christ to all who listen, even Gentiles. For the dutiful Jewish scholar Paul, preaching to Gentiles is a completely unique development. Jesus calls Paul, and us, not to be afraid of new challenges: as John the Evangelist reports in Revelation, Jesus promises to “make all things new.” In the Gospel reading, Jesus even gives us a new commandment. The Hebrew Scriptures overflow with commandments, but Jesus knows we need one more, perfect mission: “love one another.”
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.z1.) What would your day look like if you spent that whole day loving people as Jesus does? Be specific.
2.) What are the barriers to loving one another? How can you overcome them?
3.) What would you to say to someone who is doubting Jesus' love for her/him?
May 22 - Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Rev 21:10-14, 22-23; Jn 14:23-29
RETURNING TO ORDINARY LIFE
Six weeks into our Easter rejoicing, the Church gives us readings today that start preparing us for a return to ordinary life. The Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel both dwell on proper daily behavior for followers of Jesus, while the reading from Revelation reminds us why we bother with laws at all. In Acts, leaders of the church meet to discuss which essential elements of the Mosaic Law converts must obey if they wish to be disciples of Jesus Christ. John’s Gospel reflects back to the Last Supper discourse when Jesus himself emphasizes the importance of obeying God’s commandments. Observing God’s law, says Jesus, shows a desire to be intimate with the Lord. We follow rules not for their own sake, but to love God and neighbor better. This more excellent love brings us closer to Revelation’s vision of paradise, gleaming with “the splendor of God.”
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.1.) As we look to return to Ordinary Time in the Church, it might be a fitting time to ask in what ordinairy experiences in your life have you sensed God's presence? Is it hard to see God in the ordinary routine?
2.) What are some daily habbits that can help me integrate my relationship with God with my other relationships?
May 29 - The Ascension of the Lord
Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Eph 1:17-23; Lk 24:46-53
SENT FORTH
Today we celebrate Jesus’ return to heaven. If we struggle to know how to feel about this event, we take our cue from Jesus’ disciples. These disciples are first-hand witnesses to the Ascension, returning afterword to Jerusalem, where “they were continually in the temple praising God.” Long-time companions of the Lord, they surely feel the pain of physical separation from Jesus. Yet they praise God continually. They accept God’s plan, looking forward to the day when Christ will come again. As our reading from Hebrews affirms, Christ will return to “bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.” This Good News is almost too much to take in; the Acts of the Apostles explains that an angel has to wake the disciples from their stupor, reminding them to start the Lord’s work. Today’s readings are our own angel, sending us forth in joyful hope.
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
1.) The image of Jesus ascending to Heaven might lead to a sense of separation from Him. How are you reminded of Jesus' continued presence in your life? Do you pay attention to those reminders, or do you get easily distrated by other things?
2.) What are some daily habbits that can help me integrate my relationship with God with my other relationships?