Opening Prayer Led by Group Facilitator

Psalm 13

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

1  How long, O LORD? Will you forget me for ever? How long will you hide your face from me?

2  How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3  Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;

4  lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him”; lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5  But I have trusted in your merciful love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

6  I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

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.

Abraham & the Three Visitors

Genesis 18

1.       How does the LORD appear to Abraham? How does Abraham respond to his guests? How does Abraham “lead” Sarah in hospitality? How does the LORD respond to Abraham’s generosity?

2.       How does Sarah respond to the word of the LORD? Whom does the LORD first address about Sarah’s response? Why would Sarah lie? How do “truth” and “harmony” sometimes compete as priorities between a Patriarch and his wife?

3.       According to Genesis 18:19, what is God’s mission for Abraham in relation to his household? How is this the mission of every Patriarch? How would I assess my fulfillment of this mission? How am I training my offspring to fulfill this mission?

4.       Abel’s blood was “crying out” from the ground. Here there is an “outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah” (Gen 18:20). Google “sins that cry to heaven” and list the results.

5.       Why does Abraham intercede for Sodom and Gomorrah? How does Abraham express respect for the LORD during his intercession? How does Abraham’s example inform my intercession before the LORD?

6.       How does the Lord permit himself to be persuaded by Abraham? How might I, like the Lord, allow myself to be persuaded by the intercession of my wife or children?

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 be generous to God by the offering of a prayer with a lighted candle at Church.
2.    I will propose to my wife the hosting of a family from work for a meal at our house.
3.    I will provide hospitality and material relief for beggars: bags of snacks or gift cards for food.
4.    I will schedule a time to meet with my wife to hear her truth, and to express my truth, about our faith, our marriage, and our family.
5.    I will explain the 10 commandments to my children.
6.    I will read the Precepts of the Church (Catechism #2041-2043) to my family.
7.    I will include my children in accomplishing a corporal or spiritual work of mercy.
8.    I will attend Mass or pray a rosary each day this week in intercession for family members who are far from God.
9.    I will arrange with a parish for a Mass to be offered for the intention of a family member in need of God’s help.

Previous Resolutions - Genesis 17

Prayer Partners

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