Opening Prayer Led by Group Facilitator

Psalm 97

Pray the Psalm together aloud, alternating verses between two sides.  When finished, share reflections on the Psalm as a group

1  The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many islands be glad!

2  Clouds and thick darkness are round about him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

3  Fire goes before him, and burns up his adversaries round about.

4 His lightnings lighten the world; the earth sees and trembles.

5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the LORD of all the earth.

6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.

7 All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; let all his angels bow down before him.

8 Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O God.

9 For you, O LORD are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.

10 The LORD loves those who hate evil; he preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

11 Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

The Golden Calf

Exodus 32

1.       What prompts the Israelites to turn away from the LORD and make their own god? How do you deal with the “delay” of the LORD?  What do you make a god of when the LORD appears distant or uncertain?

2.     Moses comes to the defense of his flock despite his knowledge that they have done something evil.  As a Patriarch, how do navigate defending your children even when they are in the wrong?

3.     Aaron is Moses’ brother.  How is Aaron’s “turning against his brother” different than other accounts in Genesis of brothers turning against a sibling?  Why does Aaron renounce his brother so quickly?  How have you handled siblings turning against you?  How does a Patriarch train his children not to give up on a sibling, even when they feel hurt or abandoned by them?

4.     How is Aaron’s answer to Moses (verse 24) different than what his actual actions were (verse 4)?  What trait has been passed down through the generations, beginning with Adam, when a man is caught doing something wrong? How can you help counteract this trait in your own family? 

5.     Instead of reusing the valuable gold that was used to create the golden calf, Moses completely destroys it, then makes the Israelites drink the ashes of the destroyed calf.  Why does he do this?  How does this inform how a Patriarch establishes consequences for his children when they do something wrong?

6.     Moses chooses to not to ignore the sin of the people and enacts a grave punishment for their sin.  What is this punishment?  How does he first extend an offer of mercy to the Israelites?  How can a Patriarch demonstrate both mercy and punishment to his children when they have committed a grave wrong? 

7.     What heroic request does Moses ask of the LORD when he tries to make atonement for Israel’s sins?  How is this a model for a Patriarch’s actions when he needs to atone for the wrong committed by his family?

Resolutions

Choose a resolution for this week from the suggestions below or make your own.  Tap on a resolution to email it to yourself:

1.    I will compose an act of contrition focusing on “other gods” I have worshipped in my life. My act of contrition will conclude with a resolution to “destroy these gods”.  
2.    I will ask my children to share their advice on how to wait patiently for something that seems like it will never happen.  I will connect this conversation to “waiting on the Lord”
3.    I will make atonement for the wrongs committed by my family members by fasting from _________________ or by doing ____________________ as a penance. 
4.    I will apologize to my children for a specific time that I failed to come to their defense and ask for their forgiveness.
5.    I will discuss with my wife any changes that should be made in how we punish our children when they do something wrong.
6.    I will take my whole family to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
7.    I will contact a sibling that I have been distant from.
8.    I will share a story with my family about a time when I was hurt by my choice to abandon God and how the Lord brought me back to Him.
9.    I will create an activity for my children to do with their siblings.
10.    I will create a punishment for my children the next time they do something wrong and will serve that punishment alongside them.

Previous Resolutions - Exodus 19-20

Prayer Partners

Discuss with your prayer partner the success/failure of your previous resolution & offer a vocal prayer for one another.