Life Giving Bread

Could you live your life with the sole purpose to spread the Word of God?  Could you depend solely on others to finance your endeavors? And lastly, could you be open to all sorts of people and circumstances so that you do not hinder your message from being received? Is this a lifestyle you could undertake?  St. Paul did.  He also lead others to follow in his footsteps and to reach those who he could not.  Of course, no one can be everywhere at once.  So, St. Paul needed others to help spread his message about Jesus Christ.  We can be his helpers as well.  We are called to help all those we meet to come closer to knowing and loving God.  This means that we must be careful how we deal with some people. . . we could actually hamper their path towards Jesus.  It also means to be aware of and discourage those who misrepresent the church doctrines.  In all, we are to be stewards of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Church, as was St. Paul.  Go out and spread the Light!

This is our last week of the Romans study.  Please read chapters 15 and 16, review the study questions shown below, and share your thoughts on the Week 8 page or on the LGB Facebook page.

Our next study will take place during Advent, beginning November 30th.  If you are in the Louisville area, please let me know if you would like a copy of the study book.  I will  be placing an order by November 16th. If you are not in the Louisville area and/or wish to place your own order, you can find the book at:

http://www.cssprogram.net/store/index.php/preparing-for-christ-advent-cycle-b-study-book.html

Questions:

• What verse(s) stood out to you and why?
• Please review the study questions in the  Ignatius Catholic Study Bible – The Gospel of Romans’ (page 50) for chapters 15 and 16. They are available online:http://www.ignatius.com/promotions/catholic-study-bible/download/guides/icsb-romans.pdf
• Who are the Gentiles today?  Do you make them feel welcome at your church and at any other time you are together? (see Romans 15:7-13)
• Have you ever begun a charity or drive, or participated in one, to help spread the word of God? If not, do you feel called to do so? (see Romans 15:25-27)
• What are ways in which you can help support and encourage those who preach the word of God and show God’s love? (see Romans 16:1-16)
• Who “creates dissensions and difficulties, in opposition to the doctrine which you have been taught”?  What is St. Paul telling you to do? (see Romans 16:17-20)

“Love is a decision.  You have to choose to love someone and then continue to make that decision to love on a daily basis.”  This is what my husband and I tell the engaged couples that we sponsor for marriage.  Love isn’t a feeling.  It isn’t something that you can fall INTO and OUT OF.  Each day, you have to decide to love.

Choosing to love others is what Jesus is ultimately calling us to do.  In our readings this week, St. Paul is reminding us of the Golden Rule, to love our neighbors as ourselves.  This love for others should also be a reminder to us to not judge others or to do something that will cause others to fall away from Christ.  Let us work towards peace with others and find ways to uplift them, rather than tear them down.

This week, please read Romans 13:1-14:23 and review the questions shown below.  In addition, please SHARE with us your thoughts regarding the verses or questions on the Week 7 page or on the Life Giving Bread Facebook page.

One piece of business to discuss:  After this week, we have only one more week of the Romans study.  What do you think about maybe doing an Advent study? It is a 4-week study (http://www.cssprogram.net/store/index.php/preparing-for-christ-advent-cycle-b-study-book.html). Please check this out and let me know if you are interested in this.  If we do have enough interest, I want to give enough time for everyone to get the book (I can place the order for those in and near Louisville).

Questions:

• What verse(s) stood out to you and why?Please review the study questions in the  Ignatius Catholic Study Bible – The Gospel of Romans’ (page 49) for chapters 13 and 14. They are available online:http://www.ignatius.com/promotions/catholic-study-bible/download/guides/icsb-romans.pdf
•  In regards to Romans 13:1-7, how should a ruler act? What respect should be given to those in authority?  How does this relate to our society and our duties as Christians?
• Do you fulfill the law by loving your neighbors?  What, if anything, makes it difficult for you to love others?  What can you do to remedy this obstacle? (see Romans 13:8-10)
• “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?  It is before his own master that he stands or falls.” (Romans 14:4)  The Lord is our master.  All Christians serve Christ.  Therefore, we should not judge other Christians for how they serve.  “(H)e who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved by men.  Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” (Romans 14:18-19) Judgement is left up to God, and God alone.  What do you think of that information?  How can you uplift other Christians and/or strengthen the ties you have with them? How do you hurt, or bring down, people of other Christian denominations?(see Romans 14:1-23)

Police officer, social worker, electrician, mechanic, mother, father, aunt, uncle, grandparent, assembly line worker, grocer, fact checker . . . the list goes on and on when it comes to all the “titles” a person may have.  Whatever your role (or roles) in life, you have a responsibility to use your gifts or talents to better yourself and others, bringing you and others closer to God.  This could be within the scope of your “job” or maybe outside of it, like volunteer work, or at home.  This week, please pray to God to help discern what your talents are and how best to use them for the betterment of God’s Kingdom on earth.

We are now starting Week 6 of our study of Romans.  For this week, please read Romans chapters 11 and 12 (11:1-12:21).   Also, please feel free to comment on the readings by posting on the Week 6 page or on the Life Giving Bread Facebook page.

Questions:

• What verse(s) stood out to you and why?
• Please review the study questions in the  Ignatius Catholic Study Bible – The Gospel of Romans (page 48) for chapters 11 and 12. They are available online:http://www.ignatius.com/promotions/catholic-study-bible/download/guides/icsb-romans.pdf
• “I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”  Is your body an instrument of righteousness? (see Romans 12:1 and the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible – The Gospel of Romans’ note for this verse)
• How do you decide what is the will of God? (see Romans 12:2 and the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible – The Gospel of Romans’ note for this verse) By the virtue and gift of chastity? By purity of intention?  By purity of vision?  By prayer? Any other means? (see “Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2520)
• How do you use the gifts that God has given you? (see Romans 12:6 and the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible – The Gospel of Romans’ note for this verse)
• Do you carry the marks of a true Christian? If so, in what ways?  In what ways should you improve? (see Romans 12:9-21)

“Uh-oh!  You’ve done it now!  You are in big trouble mister (miss)!  You are older and wiser now.  You’ve learned the rules.  You cannot say that you didn’t know you were doing something wrong.  Now, you are responsible for your actions!”

Sounds like someone talking to their child.  However, it can be also said to you.  You are increasing your knowledge of the gospel.  You CAN NOT plead ignorance to what the gospel says.  As St. Paul writes in this week’s readings (Romans chapters 9 and 10), you are increasing your faith by pursuing knowledge of how God wants you to live your life.  Since you know better how you should live, and as your faith grows, you are more responsible in living according to what you know and you are more responsible in sharing that faith and knowledge with others so that they too may become closer to God.

“Ahhhh, man!  You mean that even though I am receiving this wonderful gift, something that I have been working for, and continue to work toward, I am also making myself more responsible for my every action?”

YES!!!  Go forth, and live by His light and spread the word of God!

We are beginning Week 5 of our study of the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans.  For this week, please read Romans, chapters 9 and 10 [Israel’s Present Rejection – Part 1 (9:1-10:21)].  In addition, please go over the questions below and feel free to share your thoughts on the Week 5 page or on the Life Giving Bread Facebook page.

Questions:

• What verse(s) stood out to you and why?
• Some people may look at the Ten Commandments and other religious laws as a measuring stick, indicating how well they are living their lives.  According to St. Paul, though, we must have FAITH to attain righteousness.  The laws are only intended to help us grow in faith.  How do you measure up? (see Romans 9:30-33)
• In regards to Romans, chapter 10, what does the chapter say about who will be saved? (see Romans 10)
• How can we help save others?  How do you help people to be saved? (see Romans 10:14-17)
• Additional Questions found in your study guide or in the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible – The Gospel of Romans (page 47)

What is it about being told not to do something and then wanting to do it even more?  There is an innate reaction to when we are not allowed to do something that makes the desire to do it much stronger.  Have you ever told a child to not jump off the furniture?  Then, it becomes even more fun and exhilarating for them when they do it.  They get a thrill out of doing something that  is not only fun but forbidden.  Now, take that scenario and think about the Ten Commandments.  What keeps us from breaking the Ten Commandments?  How are we able to overcome the desire to follow evil?  The answer lies in the grace of God.  With the power of grace, we are given the ability to reject sin.  Jesus died so that we may receive grace and live.  If we only had the Ten Commandments, we would know what is wrong, but it would be much harder for us to reject it.  By having the grace given to us by Christ, we can live eternally with Him instead of dying to sin.  Thank you Lord!

Read:

• Justification and the Christian Life – Part 2 (7:1-8:39)

Questions:

• What verse(s) stood out to you and why?
• Do you like rules to live by?  How do you view the 10 Commandments?  As a guide?  As oppression?  How should they be viewed, and what are their benefits? (see Romans 7:7-12)
• Do you live according to the flesh or according to God’s will?  Are there any ways in which evil has a hold of you?  With the grace of Christ, how have you been able to overcome an evil? (see Romans 8:6-17)
• Additional Questions found in your study guide or in the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible – The Gospel of Romans (page 46)