Why Jesus?
Part 1
Explore the playlist below before your next small group meeting.
Click Here to access the Bible
Scripture: Luke 15:11-24
Key Concepts
The story of salvation is our story, just as our personal family history is our story, so we should make every effort to truly understand it.
God’s heroes are ordinary people whose only claim to fame is that they trusted in and were faithful to Him.
Jesus is the culmination of God’s centuries-old plan and work. We have the opportunity to know, appreciate, and love this gift or forget and disregard the sacrifice of the one, true God.
Key Terms
Incarnation: The fact that the Son of God assumed human nature and became man in order to accomplish our salvation in that same human nature. Jesus, the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, is both true God and true man, not part God and part man.
Promised Land: The land of Canaan, generally thought to be the whole of western Palestine. It was promised to the Israelites by God after their sojourn in the desert.
Salvation History: The pattern of specific events in human history in which God clearly reveals His presence and saving power.
Read
Watch
4 minutes
If you missed this, I highly recommend watching it!
20 Minutes
Salvation History Scripture Reflection
Choose one of the following scripture passages to read:
Genesis 3:1-3 (Adam & Eve)
Genesis 17:1-8 (Abraham & Sarah)
Genesis 49:1-27 (Isaac & 12 tribes of Israel)
Exodus 3:1-12 (Moses)
Then, Click Here to access the Reflection Questions.
Reflect
10 minutes
Listen
5 minutes
Pray
10 minutes
Click Here to access the Bible
Lectio Divina on reading for 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Read Psalm 63:2-8.
Silently reflect and journal on these questions: Have you ever desperately wanted something? What did it feel like? Was that desire ever satisfied?
Read Psalm 63:2-8 again.
Silently reflect and journal on these questions: In what tangible ways does God satisfy our thirst for Him? What is present in the church that you can gaze on to remind you of God’s power and glory?
Life & Dignity of the Human Person
Definition
The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching. In our society, human life is under direct attack from abortion and euthanasia. The value of human life is being threatened by cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and the use of the death penalty. The intentional targeting of civilians in war or terrorist attacks is always wrong. Catholic teaching also calls on us to work to avoid war. Nations must protect the right to life by finding increasingly effective ways to prevent conflicts and resolve them by peaceful means. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
Act of Service for Life & Dignity
Pray for an end to the use of the death penalty. Also consider praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet for a specific person in Texas on death row.