Small Groups

The Way of the Chosen

Week 7

Welcome Who Jesus Welcomes

OPENING PRAYER

Dear Master in Heaven, Thank You for my salvation by faith in Jesus.  Thank You for welcoming me into Your kingdom, into Your family and to Your banquet in eternity.  Thank You that Your presence is always part of my life by Your Spirit.  And by Your Spirit, please raise up within me a Christlike love that welcomes others.  Help me to respond lovingly to the needs of those around me, so that they too might come to faith in You.  Amen

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?…And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you?…And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?…But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great…Be merciful even as your Father is merciful.”  Luke 6:32-36 

In this episode we once again see the people around Jesus trying to make sense of Him.  Is He a preacher, teacher, or healer? Is He a rabble-rouser, political instigator, or rebel revolutionary?  People in the first century tried to come up with a category for Jesus – and we’ve been doing it ever since.  So, who is Jesus, really?  And what does His behavior toward people reveal about His character?  Well, a lot, actually!  His invitation is far more inclusive than most people expect it to be.  Indeed, all who accept Jesus’ offer of forgiveness and eternal life are welcome because God is in the process of filling His heavenly banquet table! And He wants our Help.  He wants us to be loving and generous and attentive to people’s needs.  He wants us to be concerned enough to pray for those who are struggling and to welcome and serve them.”  (Chosen Study Guide Pg 102-106)

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Chosen Season 3

THE SACRAMENT OF THE SICK

“If one of you is ill, he should send for the elders of the church, and they must anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and pray over him.  The prayer of faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up again; and if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.”  James 5:14-16

Catechism of the Catholic Church – “The special grace of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effects:  The uniting of the sick person to the passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole church; the strengthening, peace, and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age; the restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul.”  CCC 1532

Pope Francis reflects: “The Son of God did not remove suffering from human experience, but taking them upon Himself He transformed them and gave them new meaning.  Illness and suffering in union with Christ now become new and abundant life.  Jesus transformed illness and suffering – in Him they are no longer negative but positive.“   From the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary of Pope Francis.

Before leaving this earth Jesus gave us His beautiful gift of The Sacrament of the Sick through His own ministry, and then through the apostles, and those ordained to follow them.

Psalm 77

“I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, and He will hear me.  In the day of my trouble, I seek the Lord, in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying. 

My soul refuses to be comforted.  When I remember God I moan, when I meditate my spirit faints.  You hold my eye lids open. I am so troubled I cannot speak. 

I consider the days of old, the years long ago. 

I said, ‘Let me remember my song in the night, let me meditate in my heart.

I will appeal to this to the years of the right hand of the Most High. 

I will remember the deeds of the Lord. 

Yes, I will remember Your wonders of old.’

Will the Lord spurn forever and never again be available?  Has His steadfast love forever ceased?  Are His promises at an end for all time?  Has God forgotten to be gracious?  Has He in His anger shut up His compassion?  Then I said,

‘I will appeal to this; to the years of the right hand of the most High. 

I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. 

I will ponder all Your work and meditate on Your mighty deeds.’

Your way O God is Holy.  What God is great like our God?  You are the God that works wonders.  You have made Your might known among the peoples. 

You with Your arm redeemed Your people, the children of Jacob & Joseph.

When the waters saw You O God, when the waters saw You, they were afraid.  Indeed, the deep trembled.  The clouds poured out water. The skies gave forth thunder.  Your arrows flashed on every side.  The crash of the thunder was in the whirlwind. Your lightnings lighted up the world.  The earth trembled and shook.  Your way was through the sea. 

Your path was through the great waters; yet Your foot prints were unseen.”