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 gave you hope in this article?
2) What uncertainties have been causing you distress or worry in the last few months?
3) Which of these suggestions for coping with uncertainty do you find the hardest to do? Why?
4) When was a time in your life that you handled uncertainty particularly well? What practices helped you through?
5) Who are people that you can talk about your uncertainty with? Have you spoken with them recently?
Views and Qs: The Value of Asking Questions
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1) What are your most burning questions? 2) Why do you think asking questions is most important?
3) Can you think of a time in history when asking questions changed the world? 4) Do you ever ask "trojan horse" questions (i.e. criticism, opinion, etc. disguised as a question)? How could you turn these into genuine questions? 5) What are the questions that could change the world today? Who could you ask these questions to lead to change?
Feast and Faith: Loving Ourselves, God, and One Another
For this week's dinner discussion we will focus on Jesus' dialogue with the disciples of the Pharisees and the Herodians about paying taxes to Cesar.
Prayer -
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Discussion -
This week we are reflecting on the Jesus' response to a question from the Pharisees about which, amongst all the commandments, is the greatest command from God. Jesus give a very well known answer, to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves:
Questions -
1) What do you think is the connection between God, our neighbor, and ourselves?
2) Do you ever find it hard to love yourself? Why or why not?
3) Do you ever find it hard to love your neighbor? Why or why not?
4) Do you ever find it hard to love God? Why or why not?
5) Where do you think a greater love of self, love of neighbor, or love of God could benefit your community, state, or country?
Final Nugget -
Jesus is inviting us this week to pay attention to how we treat ourselves, the people around us, and the connection between us. How does your ability to be compassionate and loving toward yourself affect your ability to be compassionate and loving toward others? What are some ways you could love yourself, your neighbor, and God at the same time?
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 90:1-6, 13-17
(read in unison)
1 Lord, you have been our refuge *
from one generation to another.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or the land and the earth were born, *
from age to age you are God.
3 You turn us back to the dust and say, *
"Go back, O child of earth."
4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past *
and like a watch in the night.
5 You sweep us away like a dream; *
we fade away suddenly like the grass.
6 In the morning it is green and flourishes; *
in the evening it is dried up and withered.
13 Return, O Lord; how long will you tarry? *
be gracious to your servants.
14 Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *
so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15 Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *
and the years in which we suffered adversity.
16 Show your servants your works *
and your splendor to their children.
17 May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; *
prosper the work of our hands;
prosper our handiwork.
Reading
(read by assigned person)
Matthew 22:34-46
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: “What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet”’?
If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
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 and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: