St. Francis of Assisi Weekly Reflections

Question of the Week

Based on each Sunday’s Scripture readings, your “Question of the Week” offers opportunities for deeper reflection and faith-sharing. Make the “Question of the Week” your starting point in for small group faith-sharing, family prayer time, and daily reflection.

Basado en las lecturas de la Escritura de cada domingo, su “Pregunta de la Semana” ofrece oportunidades de reflexión más profunda y compartimiento de la fe. Haga la “Pregunta de la Semana” su punto de partida en para el compartimiento de la fe del grupo pequeño, tiempo del rezo de la familia y reflexión diaria.


17th Sunday of Ordinary Time

07-29-2018Question of the Week

Reading I: 2 Kings 4:42-44 - Elisha: the multiplication of loaves
Reading II: Ephesians 4:1-6 - Unity in the Mystical Body
Gospel: John 6:1-15 - Multiplication of the loaves
Key Passage: When [the people] were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. (John 6:12–13)

Adults: When has the generous gift of another offered you hope?
Kids: What loving gift could you give to another person this week?

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16th Sunday of Ordinary Time

07-22-2018Question of the Week

Reading I Jeremiah 23:1-6 - Messianic reign
Reading II Ephesians 2:13-18 - All united in Christ
Gospel Mark 6:30-34 - Return of the disciples
Key Passage The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them,
"Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” (Mark 6:30–31a)

Adults: What do you do to rest so that you can return to work refreshed?
Kids: When will you take time to stop and pray this week?

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Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

07-15-2018Question of the Week

Reading I: Amos 7:12-15 - Amos called by God to prophecy
Reading II: Ephesians 1:3-14 - Blessing for Jew and Gentile
Gospel: Mark 6:7-13 - The mission of the Twelve
Key Passage: He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. (Mark 6:7)

Adults: What good news of Jesus can you share with others this week?
Kids: What good news of Jesus can you share with others this week?

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14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

07-08-2018Question of the Week

Reading I: Ezekiel 2:2-5 - The Lord speaks to Ezekiel
Reading II: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - Paul's weakness
Gospel: Mark 6:1-6 - Jesus at Nazareth
Key Passage: [Paul said,] Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:8)

Adults: What unavoidable weakness in yourself do you struggle to accept?
Kids: What have you wished would be different or better about you?

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Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

07-01-2018Question of the Week

Reading I: Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24 - God's justice and its rejection by the wicked
Reading II: 2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15 - Liberal giving
Gospel: Mark 5:21-43 - The daughter of Jairus; the woman with a hemorrhage
Key Passage: For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Adults: When have you felt enriched by a sacrifice you made for another?

Child: Whom could you help by your acts of kindness this week?

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Nativity of John the Baptist

06-24-2018Question of the Week

Reading I Isaiah 49:1-6 - Servant of the Lord
Reading II Acts 13:22-26 - Salvation from the family of Abraham
Gospel Luke 1:57-66, 80 - The Nativity of John the Baptist Key Passage John heralded [Jesus’] coming by
proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. (Acts 13:24)

Adults: In what ways do you help people in your life prepare themselves for meeting Jesus?
Child: How do you help others to be their best, as John did?

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Living in God's Kingdom

06-17-2018Question of the Week

Reading I: Ezekiel 17:22-24 - Prophecy of the restoration of Israel
Reading II: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 - Walking by faith
Gospel: Mark 4:26-34 - Seed grows by itself and the mustard seed
Key Passage: Yet when [the mustard seed] is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade. (Mark 4:32)

Adults: What is the "good soil" that has allowed your faith to grow like the mustard seed and provide shelter for others?
Child: How do you help your faith grow like the mustard seed?

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Love For All

06-10-2018Question of the Week

Reading I: Genesis 3:9-15 - The fall
Reading II: 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 - Paradox of the ministry
Gospel: Mark 3:20-35 - Jesus and Beelzebub; Jesus and his family
Key Passage: Jesus said, "Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:35)

Adults: In what way could you widen the circle of your family to include someone in need?
Child: Whom could you invite to share a happy time with your family?

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Bread for Others

06-03-2018Question of the Week

Reading I: Exodus 24:3-8 - Ratification of the covenant
Reading II: Hebrews 9:11-15 - The sacrifice of Jesus
Gospel: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26 - Passover preparation
Key Passage: While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." (Mark 14:22)

Adults: In what ways have you practiced the words of Jesus and been bread for others?
Child: What can you do to prepare to celebrate Holy Communion with your parish family?

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Signs of God's Love

05-27-2018Question of the Week

Reading I: Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40 - Proofs of God's love
Reading II: Romans 8:14-17 - Sons of God through adoption
Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20 - Commission of the Apostles
Key Passage: Moses said to the people, “For ask now about former ages, long before your own, ever since the day that God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of heaven to the other: has anything so great as this ever happened or has its like ever been heard of?” (Deuteronomy 4:32)

Adults: What signs of God's love have you witnessed in your life?
Child: How can you be a sign of God's love to others this week?

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Gifts of Service

05-20-2018Question of the Week

Reading I: Acts 2:1-11 - Descent of the Holy Spirit
Reading II: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 - Many gifts, one Spirit, and the analogy of the body
Gospel" John 20:19-23 - Appearance to the disciples
Key Passage: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord. (1 Corinthians 12:4–5)

Adults: What gift of service have you received from the Holy Spirit and how well are you using it right now?
Child: What gift do you hope to receive from the Holy Spirit? How could you use it to serve others?

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The Gift of Wisdom

05-13-2018Question of the Week

Reading I: Acts 1:1-11 - The Ascension of Jesus
Reading II: Ephesians 1:17-23 - A Spirit of wisdom
Gospel: Mark 16:15-20 - The Commissioning and Ascension
Key Passage: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. (Ephesians 1:17)

Adults: Who in your family has the gift of wisdom? How does he or she use this gift?
Child: Who is the wisest person you know? What has he or she taught you?

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Love of your Neighbor

05-06-2018Question of the Week

Reading I: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 - Peter in Caesarea
Reading II: 1 John 4:7-10 - God's love and ours
Gospel: John 15:9-17 - A disciple's love
Key PassageJesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12)

Adults: How is love of others connected to love for God?
Child: Who needs Jesus' love this week? How can you show them his love?

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