Catching Fire Retreat

REFLECTION POINTS:

• As you write your own story do you find that there are difficult chapters? If you search interiorly do you find a longing and ache for more? Do you find that you seek guidance in other areas of your life but not when it comes to the deepest places of your heart? Are you willing to make a change?
• Consider for a few minutes these beautiful words from scripture: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Do you allow God’s words to guide you or do you seek your own path?
• What things seem to bring you hope, peace, and joy? Are you willing to give God a chance to give you a foundation rooted in His love? Will you let Him give you His guidance?
• Will you let scripture flow through the pages of your own story? Will you walk in the Light?

REFLECTION POINTS:

• Have you ever read scripture to another person? Might you consider reading one of the Gospels to someone you know who may appreciate it? Perhaps someone who is homebound?
• Consider beginning a journey through the book the Acts of the Apostles – it is a wonderful book filled with the Holy Spirit moving in big ways through miracles and inner strengthening of individuals to give them courage to have faith in the face of difficulties.
• The book of James among other things highlights the need to have perseverance in the face of trails and temptations – are there and trials and temptations that you are facing in your own life? Consider reading James for guidance
• This beautiful book of scripture also attests to the need to truly live our Faith through the works that we do. Consider how your inner faith informs your decisions and affects how you act in the world? Ask God how He might be inviting you to live out your faith in a deeper way.
• Click here to Read the Book of James: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/james/1?1=#67001001

Repost of MONDAY’s

SCRIPTURE SPARK TALK

REFLECTION POINTS:

• Do you have a relationship with the Bible? Like any relationship it takes an investment of time and energy, but it is so worth it – are you willing to begin a relationship with the Bible, and in turn deepen your relationship with God?
• Spend a few minutes reflecting on these few passages, not just reading them, but truly reflecting and allowing our Father to show you His love through them and how they can impact you life:
  • “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him might not die but have eternal life” – John 3:16
  • “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me” – Phil. 4:13
  • Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer!  From the ends of the earth I call; my heart grows faint. Raise me up, set me on a rock, for you are my refuge, a tower of strength against the foe.  Let me dwell in your tent forever, take refuge in the shelter of your wings.” – Psalm 61:2-5
• Is God possibly calling you to serve at your parish as a lector? Pray about this and talk to you pastor if you feel God calling you to minister to His people in this way.

REFLECTION POINTS:

• Pray with the following passage: “I know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either cold or hot.  So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” – Revelation 3:15-16
  • Ask yourself: Am I lukewarm or am I on Fire? What would it look like to be on fire? What small things can I implement in my life to help me “Catch Fire?”
  • Consider that the Heart of Jesus is on fire with love for you – and that drawing near to a source of fire is what is necessary to catch fire ourselves! Draw close to Christ and you will catch fire.
• Pray with this passage: “I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built.” – Luke 6:47-48
  • Within this passage we are encouraged to: 1.Come 2. Listen 3. Act
    • God will ask something of us (Be not afraid!) He will guide us on the journey – he knows that we are little and that we will need His strength! God will give us the courage that we need if we choose to take the next step forward.
• Try to take advantage of the present moment and to take today’s step and to utilize today’s grace to be the light that leads you forward.
• Consider these beautiful words from St. John Paul II and how they apply to your own life and your own quest for happiness: “It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; He is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; He is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is He who provoked you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is He who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is He who reads in your heart your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be ground down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal.”

REFLECTION POINTS:

• Do you have a relationship with the Bible? Like any relationship it takes an investment of time and energy, but it is so worth it – are you willing to begin a relationship with the Bible, and in turn deepen your relationship with God?
• Spend a few minutes reflecting on these few passages, not just reading them, but truly reflecting and allowing our Father to show you His love through them and how they can impact you life:
  • “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him might not die but have eternal life” – John 3:16
  • “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me” – Phil. 4:13
  • Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer!  From the ends of the earth I call; my heart grows faint. Raise me up, set me on a rock, for you are my refuge, a tower of strength against the foe.  Let me dwell in your tent forever, take refuge in the shelter of your wings.” – Psalm 61:2-5
• Is God possibly calling you to serve at your parish as a lector? Pray about this and talk to you pastor if you feel God calling you to minister to His people in this way.

REFLECTION POINTS:

• Am I aware of the hunger that nags at my heart and soul? Am I willing to try a new approach of feeding this hunger with the Word of God and to live upon it?
• Can I try turning to scripture for help, guidance, and answers when I need strength in the midst of confusion or questions that I have for God?
• Can I try to begin reading one of the Gospels this week in an attempt to encounter Jesus found within rather than trying to figure out what it all means?
• Spend some time reading and praying with the story of Peter walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33) you can find it here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/14
• Sit and pray with these passages:
  • “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you – before you were born I consecrated you.” – Jeremiah 1:5
  • Come to me, all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30
  • “God makes ALL things work for good for those who love Him.” – Romans 8:28
• Most of all I’m excited for you to do one . . . simple . . . thing . . . to plan time each day this week to sit and listen through Scripture to a friend who loves you DEARLY. . . to listen . . . and to believe . . .as God tells you that He – LOVES – YOU!

REFLECTION POINTS:

• Do I sometimes find prayer to be difficult? What distractions might be getting in the way that I can consider setting aside to have better communication with God?
• When prayer finds itself in the midst of a busy list of things to do on any given day, can I try putting prayer first rather than putting it off?
• When I get distracted in prayer, rather than getting frustrated, can I try to turn the very distraction into something to pray about? Can I ask God to lead me deeper through that distraction and at the same time believe that God is just happy that I am there with Him?
• Can I try simply being silent in the presence of God?
• Can I allow my prayer life to go deeper through committing to consistency? As we conclude our week-long focus on prayer, can I pull everything together and make a decision to commit a set amount of time aside daily for communication with God?
• Don’t get frustrated friends!

REFLECTION POINTS:

• How can you try to allow Jesus into your heart in a more transparent way? What things in your life do you think could be blocks where you prevent God from coming into your heart? Talk to God about these things.
• Try praying in an open and honest way today. Just be OPEN – tell God how you feel and ask Him to be in that with you (nothing is more open than sharing difficult stuff with God – if you’re upset: tell God that you are upset! Be open and don’t be afraid to pray about things that aren’t pretty. Be real with God as you pray!)
• Can you try sitting down, closing your eyes, and physically reaching out your hand and asking God to take it and lead you as you pray? Try this and see where God takes you?
• What things do you think God may be calling you to that you might be resisting? Are you willing to at the very least pray and truly talk with God about it? Can you share your fears and worries with God?
• Just try to be open throughout the day!!!!

REFLECTION POINTS:

• Remember that Jesus spent time praying with the Father…Try asking Jesus to help you to pray, and to imagine Jesus sitting beside you praying with you as you reach out to the Father.
• Can you try to pray today with my spouse or with a close friend? Are you willing to open up my heart and your prayer life to share it with another? At the very least are you willing to spend time together with another as you both reach out to God in silent prayer simultaneously?
• Spend a moment reflecting on Jesus’ words “Where two or three gather together in my name, there I am also.” Think about what situations of scenarios in your life recalling this truth may bring great comfort, knowing that Jesus is right there with you.