23rd Sunday of the Year A
The following resources are in the form of a video presentation
- The readings for the day
(a useful commentary on these readings here) - A Gospel Reflection by Fr Alex and Fr Mike
- Prayers of Intercession
- Final Blessing
- Closing reflective music
After you have watched our Prayer Resources we would encourage you to sit and reflect quietly on what the Word of God is saying to you this weekend. The questions below are simply suggestions but if you find them helpful then use them.
If you are interested in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word from any of the resources you have watched please email us.
cluster.alpha@outlook.com
Questions for reflection
(framed for a group discussion)
Here are some suggested questions you may find helpful.1. Last week, the conflict between Jesus and Peter was because "the way you think is not God's way but man's" (Matt 16:20). Right now, what issue or situation in your life is making it difficult for you to think or act as God would want you to?
Ask for God's help to see a way forward.
2. Think of someone who has wronged you in some way. Write down just the facts (no emotion, no judgement), perhaps as a list and write the person's name on it: "X did this". Now make an exact copy of the list and write on it "I did this". It is important to do this before proceeding here.
Preparing for next week
For those who would like to start reflecting on next week's gospel, the text can be found here.
Preparing for next week’s gospel:
Matt 18:21-35 I do not tell you to forgive seven times, but seventy seven times.
Here are some suggested questions for you to consider.
Peter continues to be the focus through which Jesus teaches both him and us about the kind of Messiah he is, rather than the Messiah they expected him to be.
Peter's question about forgiveness could just as easily have been about love:
"Lord, how often should I love my neighbour? Seven times?"
1. Recall a time when you struggled to forgive someone but eventually managed to do so. What made it possible? (Share with your group if you are in one.)
2. "Without the conviction that God has forgiven me, it would be much harder to forgive others." How have you experienced God's forgiveness in your life?
End of Prayer resource
You should read this only if you have completed the first task, otherwise the task will be distorted.
Find yourself in the presence of God and have your two lists from task 1 to hand. Take the list headed "I did this" and read it out loud as if you wanted all the world to hear how you were wronged: you didn't do any of this - this was done to you!
Now wait for God to bring to mind ways in which you have wronged other people. Add one of these ways to the list you read out. Read the new list and thank God for his love and forgiveness both to you as well as to the person who has wronged you. Say the Our Father slowly.