Discussion Questions for Sunday's Readings 
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (4B), February 1, 2009
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University


SUNDAY READINGS

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Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups, 
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
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First Reading
Deuteronomy, Chapter 18, Verses 15-20

1. Does God raise ordinary people to become prophets? Can you think of some people you would call prophets? What do they do that is different? Could you be a prophet for any cause?

2. Are there times in your life when God has put “words into your mouth”? How do you feel about God using you to help others?


Second Reading
First Corinthians, Chapter 7, Verses 32-35

1. Do you think you are the only person who has anxieties of some kind, or could everyone who is not dead have them?

2. What virtue do you think might help most in your attempts to control anxieties? Anything else that might help?


Gospel
Mark, Chapter 1, Verses 21-28

1. How was Jesus’ authority confirmed for the people in Capernaum? Would you like authorization sometimes? If you can’t have absolute approval, will trust work for you? Explain.

2. Jesus’ message is, “Love God above all else and your neighbor as yourself” What is astonishing and spellbinding about this command? Is it different from what the scribes had been saying? What do you find spellbinding about Jesus?

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By Anne Osdieck of the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University 
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