No More Fear This New Year!
Discipleship Questions for
Sunday December 28, 2008
Scripture Readings:
First Reading: Gen 15:1-6, 21:1-3
Psalm Reading: Psalm 128
Second Reading: Col 3:12-17
Gospel: Luke 2:22, 39-40
First Reading Gen 15:1-6; 21:1-3
A reading from the Book of Genesis
Your own issue shall be your heir.
The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying:
“Fear not, Abram!
I am your shield;
I will make your reward very great.”
But Abram said,
“O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be,
if I keep on being childless
and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer?”
Abram continued,
“See, you have given me no offspring,
and so one of my servants will be my heir.”
Then the word of the LORD came to him:
“No, that one shall not be your heir;
your own issue shall be your heir.”
The Lord took Abram outside and said,
“Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.
Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.”
Abram put his faith in the LORD,
who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.
The LORD took note of Sarah as he had said he would;
he did for her as he had promised.
Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age,
at the set time that God had stated.
Abraham gave the name Isaac to this son of his
whom Sarah bore him.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
(R.) Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
(R.) Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
your children like olive plants
around your table.
(R.) Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
(R.) Blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways.
Second Reading Col 3:12-17
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians
About family life in the Lord.
Brothers and sisters:
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,
bearing with one another and forgiving one another,
if one has a grievance against another;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.
And over all these put on love,
that is, the bond of perfection.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another,
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Gospel Lk 2:22, 39-40
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom.
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
They took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord.
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.
Discipleship Questions:
1. Please discuss how much fear plays a role in your life.
2. Focus your reading on the Genesis passages especially verse 1. “Don’t be afraid – I am your shield. Your reward will be grand!” This is what our Lord wants to say to you today. Can you imagine what your life might be like without any fear – fear displaced by absolute unmitigated trust in God and His promises? Please discuss.
3. Please read Matthew 10:28. Again Jesus encourages you and me not to fear. Read 1John 4:18 – perfect love casts out all fear. Now read the Gospel reading for today and reflect on how Simeon deals with any uncertainty in his life.
4. Please read the following and discuss: Ah! Simeon – he was a man who “prosdeco/menoß para¿klhsin touv ∆Israh/l,” - he was a man looking with faith and enthusiastic expectancy for the coming of the sublime consolation or encouragement of Israel!
Simeon was a patient man trusting that God would be true to His promise of sending a Savior – and so Simeon was the first Jewish man outside of the Royal Family to know about and to anticipate and eventually to discover Jesus Himself!
So too was the prophetess Anna!
The virtue that stands against the intimidating witness of “what is” is “patient expectancy” that God is God and will bring His redemption into your life – into your terrifying situation!
So today God says to all of us – “Don’t be afraid, learn from my dear friend Simeon and Anna – patience – fervent expectation – I will NOT let you down! Test me – prove me – Let me show myself to be faithful to my promises!”
Be patient – my redemption is coming! O It’s coming alright! And when it comes you will be filled with such overwhelming joy! I can see that day!