Proclamation of the Word
Sunday, 20 January 2008
2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle A)
VESCC
REFLECTION QUESTION OF THE WEEK
What does it mean to me that jesus is called "the Lamb of God" and "the light of nations" ?
Dear Friends!
You might want to simply discuss the question above with one another on the way home from church, or to make use of the following simple format at home at a convenient time during the week.
1) Make the Sign of the Cross together, placing yourselves within the Holy Trinity. (possibly touch your fingers with holy water beforehand)
2) Read aloud some portion from this Sunday’s scripture readings.
3) Read the Question and allow time to reflect for a moment;
then give each person who wishes a chance to share his/her answer.
4) Pray together: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen!”
From this Sunday’s Scriptures
First Reading Isaiah 49:3.5-6
The Lord said to me, "You are my servant (Israel) in whom I shall be glorified"; I was honoured in the eyes of the Lord, my God was my strength. And now the Lord has spoken, he who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, to gather Israel to him: "It is not enough for you to be my servant, to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel; I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1:1-3
I, Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle, together with brother Sosthenes, send greetings to the church of God in Corinth, to the holy people of Jesus Christ, who are called to take their place among all the saints everywhere who pray to our Lord Jesus Christ; for he is their Lord no less than ours. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.
Gospel John 1:29-34
Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, "Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water."
John also declared, "I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit.' Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God."
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Background on REFLECTION QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Our Sunday celebration of God's Word and the Eucharist is meant to nourish all of us throughout the week: our adults, our teens, and our children. How can that one hour on Sunday sustain us? What could help keep God's Word alive for us and for our families in our hectic and busy worlds?
Following the example of many parishes, beginning today VESCC members and friends are being invited to embrace the concept of weekly reflections on the Word of God we have heard at Sunday Mass. We are invited to share our insights with the people with whom we live (families members, roommates, …) and with other community members with whom we gather (choir rehearsal, council meeting, bible studies, …), wherever “two or three are gathered." Each household in the Community is invited to spend some time (perhaps ten or fifteen minutes) during the week to share insights with one another: spouse to spouse, child to parent, parent to child, the whole family or household together, roommate to roommate, neighbour to neighbour. By God’s grace this sharing will help to keep God’s Word alive and active within us.
The Reflection Question of the Week will be available each Sunday at 11:00 Mass and will begin appearing on our Home Page (www.vescc.org) by the beginning of October. The handouts will include suggestions for further study for those who would like to delve deeper into the themes. If you would like to have the question and supporting material e-mailed to you each week, we would be happy to do so; simply send an e-mail to vescc@aon.at and ask to be placed on the “Question of the Week” e-mail list.
If you have the time, Fr. Kevin and Deacon Greg would very much appreciate your feedback: vescc@aon.at or Rooseveltplatz 8, 1090 Vienna
