Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar, and joined the each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go Podcast highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the week.
from NPR
Questions:
1) What is the challenge this article poses for all of us moving forward?
2) What do you think it means to be a "peacemaker" today in light of this article?
3) How do you respond to or relate with people who disagree with you?
4) What is one practice you think could help people be able to listen to one another even when they disagree?
5) How could you foster an atmosphere of openness and deep listening in your community?
Views and Qs: Building the Peace
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) What is the difference between peace keeping, peace making, and peace building? 2) Which of these do you think we are called to do in today's world? Why?
3) Where have you seen successful peace building take place in your life or community? 4) Where do you think peace building needs to take place in the world today? 5) Why skills do you think are required to be a peace builder? How could you cultivate those skills in your own life?
Feast and Faith: The Beatitudes
For this week's dinner discussion we will focus on Jesus' teaching of the beatitudes from the sermon on the mount.
Prayer -
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Discussion -
This week we are reflecting on the Jesus' powerful teaching from the very beginning of his ministry of who is blessed in the kingdom of heaven. He highlights the poor in spirit, the meek, the mourning, the peacemakers, those who thirst for righteousness, those who are persecuted, those who are pure in heart, and those who are merciful:
Questions -
1) Which of these virtues Jesus highlights as blessed resonates most with you? Why?
2) Why do you think this is the very first thing Jesus teaches about in his ministry?
3) What do you think the world would be like if peacemaking, mercy, and meekness were held as the greatest goods? What would be different?
4) How do you think meekness and poorness of spirit could help us in our common life together?
5) How do you practice mercy in your life? What about a hunger and thirst for righteousness?
Final Nugget -
Jesus is inviting us this week to reflect on our personal and communal goals and values. In our common life, we often think of success, victory, and superiority in its many forms as the greatest goods of our life. Here, Jesus highlights the opposite of those characteristics as the blessed ones in the kingdom of heaven.
Where in your life might you be called to a radical reversal in your goals and values?
Stay and Pray: A Devotion for Families at the Close of the Day Each week we feature a way for your family to reflect and pray together. For families with older children this is an at home liturgy for your family to participate in together. It is a daily devotion for families adapted from The Book of Common Prayer.
Before you begin, take a few moments to decide who will read the scripture reading and who will read the collect and closing.
Read the Psalm and Lord's Prayer in unison.
After a moment of silence, begin with the Psalm.
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
(read in unison)
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; *
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the Lord; *
let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; *
let us exalt his Name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon him and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, *
and he will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; *
happy are they who trust in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you that are his saints, *
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
22 The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, *
and none will be punished who trust in him.
Reading
(read by assigned person)
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Prayers for Ourselves and For Others (take this time to each offer one person/event that you would like to hold in prayer as well as one thing you are thankful for)
Dear God, tonight I ask your prayers for ….
and I give you thanks for …
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
(read in unison)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen
The Collect
(read by assigned person)
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: