Easter Sunday morning

Our readings for Easter Sunday Morning are:

1. Acts 10: 34a, 37-43
   
2. Psalm 118: 1-2, 16-17, 22-23
   
3. Colossians 3: 1-4
   
4. John 20: 1-9
   

• Finding freedom from fear
  
• This reading is Peter addressing the close friends and relatives of a Roman centurion.  The mere fact that Peter, a devout Jew was there was something of an epiphany to both Peter and his audience.  There are all sorts of barriers that separate us from those that God might want for us to minister to: class, background, culture, ethnicity, age, health, ...
• Is it the case that everyone that you serve is just like you in all ways?
• How did you get to a place where you ministered to them on a regular basis?
• Do you think that ministering to them has made you a better person?
• How?
• Given your life experience to date, what do you think might be next?
  

• Statement of purpose
  
• A life without purpose is the worst sort of existence.
• Have you ever thought about what your purpose is, why you are here?
• Do you think that we should actively seek to find our purpose, or should we be content to "let that purpose happen to us?"
• Do you think that your life purpose changes from time to time as you go through life?
• If you knew your purpose with any degree of depth, how might that change you?
• How would a statement of purpose change the way that you make decisions?
  

• Pleasing God
  
• If you think about it, everything in this life is just a means to an end.
• What is that "end" to which all of your possessions, talents, skills, relationships, experiences, honors, ravishing good looks are for?  What is it that they equip you for?
• How can you tell when/if any one of those gets corrupted and becomes an end in itself?
• What then?
  

• It's a journey
  
• My favorite part about RCIA is the Gospel readings for the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent: the woman at the well, the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus.  In all three stories, Jesus patiently, gently calls forth faith from those that He touches.  Today's Gospel is no different.  We take time to truly embrace the resurrection in our lives.  Maybe our entire life.
• What is a journey that you are on these days?
• How did that start?
• Where do you think that God is taking you?
• What are you doing to further that journey?
• Who are those taking that journey with you in one capacity or another?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Where can I be a source of hope for another?
   
2. Why am I here?
   
3. What really matters to me in my life?  Do my actions reflect that?
   
4. Where is God leading me to greater freedom?

Resurrection Prayer

God of resurrection ever aborning -

Make my wounds glorious in the light of your transforming love.

Take my hurts and transform my fear to compassion.

Take my losses and transform my indifference to hope.

Take my failings and transform my resentment to humility.

And in your great love call me forth from my nights into all my days.

That I too might be Your Presence to the Lazarus I meet today.

 

Shalom!