Serving With A Heart Like Jesus

Weekend Bible Readings to spend some time with the Word.

This Week's Homiles: https://sjlibertyville.podbean.com/

Reflection Questions:

• How do you think American society defines greatness?

• What is your reaction to Jesus’ words: The greatest among you must be your servant? (Matthew 23:11) 

• Do you know someone who you feel serves with a heart like Jesus? What is it about the way he or she serves that makes you feel that way?

• As a Catholic Christian, if someone asked you why you do service, how would you respond? 

Quotes from Church Teaching

"In our times a special obligation binds us to make ourselves the neighbor of every person without exception and of actively helping him when he comes across our path…"   - Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World), 27.  

"We are dealing with human beings, and human beings always need something more than technically proper care. They need humanity. They need heartfelt concern."   -Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 31.

"The saints—consider the example of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta—constantly renewed their capacity for love of neighbour from their encounter with the Eucharistic Lord, and conversely this encounter acquired its real- ism and depth in their service to others."  - Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 18.

Weekend Bible Readings to spend some time with the Word.

This Week's Homiles: https://sjlibertyville.podbean.com/

Reflection Questions:

• What is your posture towards others most of the time? 

• What behaviors or posture should identify us as Ambassadors of Christ?

• What are some major barriers to "staying awake" or being in "ready position" as followers of Jesus?

• What advice would you give someone who wants to be in "ready position" to serve with a heart like Jesus?

Quotes from Scripture & Church Teaching 

"Seeing with the eyes of Christ, I can give to others much more than their outward necessities; I can give them the look of love which they crave." -Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 18.
 

"...we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us." -2 Corinthians 5:20.

"The Christian's programme --the programme of the Good Samaritan, the programme of Jesus --is 'a heart which sees'. This heart sees where love is needed and acts accordingly."
                                                                                            -Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 31.
 

Weekend Bible Readings to spend some time with the Word.

This Week's Homiles: https://sjlibertyville.podbean.com/

Reflection Questions:

• “Who in your life has been such a servant to you? Who has helped you love the good that grows within you?” - Fred Rogers. Who came to your mind when you paused for ten seconds? Why? 

• Is there a gift or talent that you have that someone affirmed in you? What was the impact on you?

• Who in your life can you serve by recognizing and affirming a gift or talent they have? What are the specific gifts and talents you would like to affirm? 

• What are some barriers that make it difficult for you to affirm the gifts in others? How can you overcome these?

Quotes from Scripture & Church Teaching: 

“Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.” -1 Thessalonians 5:11

“[The Holy Spirit] calls people into [the Church’s] service and sends them the necessary gifts.” (YOUCAT 119).

…[God] distributes special graces among the faithful of every rank. By these gifts He makes them fit and ready to undertake the various tasks and offices which contribute toward the renewal and building up of the Church, according to the words of the Apostle: "The manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for profit". -Lumen Gentium 12

Weekend Bible Readings to spend some time with the Word.

This Week's Homiles: https://sjlibertyville.podbean.com/

Reflection Questions:

• What do you think we could measure to get a gauge of how closely we are following our mission assigned by Christ? In other words, how do we know we’re on track? 

• What is your reaction to Pope Francis’ image of the Church as a field hospital? How might that look in the Libertyville area?

• Of the types of service Jesus lists in the Gospel from this past weekend, is there one that particularly moves you? Why do you think that is? 

Quotes from Scripture & Church Teaching 

“The Holy Spirit builds up the Church and impels her. He reminds her of her mission.” YOUCAT 119.

“…we should especially mention the great parable of the Last Judgement (cf. Mt 25:31-46), in which love becomes the criterion for the definitive decision about a human life's worth or lack thereof…Love of God and love of neighbour have become one: in the least of the brethren we find Jesus himself, and in Jesus we find God.” -Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 15.

"…love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind, is as essential to [the Church] as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel. The Church cannot neglect the service of charity any more than she can neglect the Sacraments and the Word." -Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, 22.