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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 July and August 2022:July 31, 2022 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23; Psalm 90; Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11; Luke 12:13-21
THE CENTER OF A MEANINGFUL LIFE
Today’s readings invite us to reflect upon some of life’s deepest questions, and to explore the meaning of faith. We hear of the universal human search for meaning in our lives in the book of Ecclesiastes. In Luke’s Gospel, we hear Jesus’ parable about one who foolishly seeks ultimate security through the accumulation of wealth. In Colossians, faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ is proclaimed as the path to a richly purposeful and meaningful life. The path of Christian faith places our work, our sufferings, and our limitations within the larger picture of God’s purposes for all of us. In Jesus, God is revealed as our companion in human suffering and limitation. God’s love is at the center of a meaningful life. We place our trust in this loving God, who created us to share in this love, and to share this love with others.
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Reflection Questions for July 31:
The reading from Ecclesiastes points to an honest question many of us wrestle with: "what is the meaning of life?" How do you wrestle with this question? What meaning does faith give to your life?
Saint Paul in the reading today talks about the old self versus the new self. He urges us to "put to death" the immoral, impure aspects of ourselves. What is something you need to let go of? A habit? A way of thinking? How can you focus on Christ as the source of your new life as you do this? What step can you take this week?
In the Gospel, Jesus says: “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” Take an honest look at where you spend your time, mental energy, love, money etc. What would someone close to you say your life "consists of"?
August 7, 2022 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm 33; Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19 [1-2, 8-12]; Luke 12:32-48 [35-40]
FAITH
Our readings today explore how faith begins and how faith works. Faith begins with God’s initiative of love, together with God’s promise about the future. The passage from Hebrews urges readers to have an assured confidence in God, who promised and delivered a lasting legacy to Abraham. The book of Wisdom reminds readers of the God who promised and delivered freedom from slavery during the Exodus. In the Gospel passage from Luke, Jesus begins with the promise that “your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom,” before describing how to live faithfully during times when God seems absent. God’s promises mean that God is fully invested in our future. Living in these promises, we can confidently let go of fear and insecurity. We can anticipate that when God intervenes in our lives, it will be for our benefit. And we can become God’s partners in fulfilling these divine promises.
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Reflection Questions for August 7:
The beginning of the first reading from the Book of Wisdom talks about courage as a result of faith. Does your faith life give you courage to live in God's ways? What fears hinder your courage to live out your faith in the world? How can you connect more with Christ to overcome those fears? Is there a short prayer or Bible verse you can recite in times when you are called to be courageous in faith or face fears?
In Hebrews, we are reminded that faith enables Abraham to obey God, going into a new land, to stay in that land, and to generate offspring that would become a nation. Faith empowered him, but also clearly challenged him to go outside his comfort zone. How might your faith be prompting you to go to "new territory" in your life as a follower of Jesus?
In the Gospel, Christ speaks of vigilence and preparedness. Like with a sport or instrument, being ready for the big game or big performance takes constant practice, stretching, and maintenance of good health. What spiritual muslces need to be strengthened in you? Is there a simple spiritual exercise routine you can start or continue? Challenge: find a partner to help hold you accountable to your "workout."
August 14, 2022 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10; Psalm 40; Hebrews 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53
PROPHETS
We reflect upon the voice of the prophet in this Sunday’s readings. We hear of the suffering and the rescue of Jeremiah. We hear how Jesus anticipates his suffering and death. As with Jeremiah and Jesus, the prophets were sent by God to the leaders and people of Israel. A prophet is one who speaks truth to the powerful, exposing their darker hidden motives and injustices. The prophet presents a way forward that aligns with God’s purposes. A prophet can force people away from a comfortable neutrality or indifference. The prophet creates an urgency to make a choice: Are we content with the status quo, or are we to change our ways and pursue a new and better path? Today, we may also ask, how do we identify and respond to prophets of our time? How might we provide a prophetic voice in our Church and in our world?
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
August 21, 2022 Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 66:18-21;Psalm 117;Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13; Luke 13:22-30
GOD’S PEOPLE GATHER
Our readings today remind us of the larger story of the Bible, of God’s purposes and promises for the world. Because of humanity’s rejection of God, as told in Genesis, human communities were first dispersed. Isaiah proclaims that one day God will gather these communities to be healed and reconciled with God. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus echoes Isaiah and teaches that all peoples in God’s promised future “will recline at table in the kingdom of God.” Notice that in Isaiah, the nations coming to God do not lose their ethnicity or unique identity. They bring their own distinct cultural gifts to God’s table. Each people has its unique history with God, has received distinct blessings from God, and each is accountable to God. Today, we live in a global and multi-cultural Church. When God’s diverse peoples gather in worship today, may we honor and celebrate each other’s gifts and blessings.
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
August 28, 2022 Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Psalm 68; Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a; Luke 14:1, 7-14
HUMILITY
Today’s readings praise the virtue of humility and offer concrete ways for us to become more humble. The Book of Sirach suggests a practical reason for acting with humility: humble people are more likeable than the arrogant. Even God “finds favor” with those who humble themselves. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus provides real-world suggestions for growing in humility and teaches us never to assume we are better than others. His words change our outward behavior and expand our hearts and minds to care about people we might have dismissed before. This practical, almost “folksy” wisdom about humility helps us behave better in daily life and makes our lofty goal of eternal life more accessible. Our reading from Hebrews affirms that heaven is indeed approachable. The personal love and sacrifice of Jesus have opened “the city of the living God” to us. Humility prepares us for paradise.
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
