Sunday Readings' Discussion Questions
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 16, 2009 (21B)
From the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University
Sunday Readings
--------------------------------------------
Questions on Sunday's Readings for use by discussion groups,
prayer groups, or for individual prayer.
--------------------------------------------
First Reading
Joshua, Chapter 24, Verses 1-2a, 15-17, 18b
1. Both the first reading and the gospel are concerned with choice. The Israelites gave reasons for choosing to serve the Lord. “For it was the Lord, our God who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt . . . performed miracles . . . and protected us.” What is your reason for choosing God?
2. In which do you have more invested, a choice you made or a choice someone else made for you? What are the implications for your family, church, job and community?
Second Reading
Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 5, Verses 21-32
1. Compare and contrast the bride with a difficult childbirth and the church with the birth of new ideas.
2. What idea do you think Paul is trying to communicate by comparing the relationship between husband and wife with Christ and the Church?
Gospel
According to John, Chapter 6, Verses 60-69
1. Compare Joshua and Peter. What good leadership qualities do you find in these readings? What qualities would you like to see in Church leadership today? If you had a say, how would you set up Church “management”
2. Jesus asks, “Do you also want to leave?” If you were there would you be one of the many disciples who returned to his/her former way of life or would you have stayed with Jesus? Is there any middle ground here? Sometimes do you act like there is middle ground? Discuss.
------------------------------------------------------
By Anne Osdieck of the Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University
------------------------------------------------------