30th 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
  
• 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.

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.
The Ten Commandments come across as the minimum required by God: “Thou shalt not this; thou shalt not that”.

Jesus uses them to raise the bar to a new height: God, who is Love and makes us in his image and likeness, wants love from us - nothing more and nothing less.
1.   Recall a time when loving God came through loving your neighbour in some way. (Share in your group).
2.   Pope Francis speaks often of seeing the face of Christ in the poor. Think of a time when you felt a bit of a hypocrite in claiming to love God but neglecting your neighbour in some way.

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:  the Feast of All Saints

Matt 5:1-12     Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.

Here are some suggested questions for you to consider.

The Beatitudes are Jesus’ manifesto to the world. They make daunting reading because they are well outside our comfort zone. Jesus sits down with his disciples and tells them effectively: “You are blessed because you are trying to follow the gospel message and the world is going to hate you for it.”

1.  Think big, start small. Having read the passage, think of one or two small things you could do this week that will take you along the road of the beatitudes.
(Share with your group if you are in one).

2.  Consider how Pope Francis is being castigated by many different factions whose values are “of the world” and who sense he is a threat to their comfort zones. Yet he continually speaks of “joy”, “mercy” and “dialogue”. Pray for him and follow his twitter feed on the home page of our website https://www.southedinburghrc.org.uk/home

3.  Make a note in your diary of the upcoming Feast of All Souls (Nov 2). Our Bereavement Group have made a special video for it.