Theme:

The readings this Sunday show that there are two kinds of good works – sacrifices and mercy. These discuss the difference between the two.

Questions:

Day 1: The first reading speaks of the sureness of coming of God. He describes the coming of God.

• What did the prophet mean when he told his listeners to press on to know the Lord?

• How can you know the Lord?

• How did he describe the appearance of God? How is that relevant to your life?

Day 2: The prophet now speaks of the shallowness of the love of God's people.

• When he described the love of Ephraim and Judah as like a morning cloud and like dew that goes away early, what did he mean by that?

• Is your love for God similar to their love? How can you prevent that from happening?

• God spoke through the prophet and said that he desires steadfast love and not sacrifice. What did he mean by that?

• What is the knowledge of God? Why is this better than burnt-offerings?

Day 3: The psalm presents a picture of a powerful and beautiful God.

• The psalmist says that “Our God comes and does not keep silence”. What did he mean by that?

• The psalmist also said that God is not rebuking his people for their sacrifices. Verse 14 is a command from God to his people. What did he mean by that?

• Verse 15 says, “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me”. Do you believe that when you are faithful to God, he will help you in your time of need? If not, how can you reconcile this with what scripture says?

• How can you glorify God when he delivers you?

Day 4: St. Paul speaks of the faith of Abraham in the second reading

• When God gave his promise to Abraham, Abraham was very old, about 100 years old) and his wife was past the age of child bearing. But because God promised that Abraham's wife will bear a son, St. Paul describes Abraham as hoping against hope. What did he mean by that? How is that relevant to you in your life?

• Abraham considered his and his wife's physical condition and verse 20 says, “no distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God”. This tells us that physically, it was impossible for God's promise to happen. Yet, he believed even if there were doubts (distrust) in his mind. How can one have doubts and still believe?

• Verse 20 continues to say that he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God. Our faith grows strong when we praise God, in the midst of doubts. How can praising God strengthen your faith?

Day 5: The second reading continues to speak of Abraham's faith.

• Verse 21 says that Abraham was fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. What is preventing you from believing that God can do what he has promised?

• Abraham was reckoned as righteous because he believed. Other translations say that he pleased God when he believed. Why do you think it pleases God when we believe him?

• St. Paul says we will be righteous when we believe in God – who raised Jesus from the dead. What does it mean to believe in God?

• Is God leading you to do something? How can you perfect your faith in him and be righteous before him? What do you want to tell the Lord?

Day 6: The gospel reading narrates the call of Matthew.

• Matthew was a tax collector. His people hated him because he works for their foreign masters and the tax collectors are viewed as people who cheated them. What did Jesus tell Matthew? What did he mean by that?

• How did Matthew respond? What did Matthew do with the money in the tax booth?

• Jesus calls us where we are. He calls us as we are. If you feel awkward and unworthy, that is normal – because this is why Jesus came. Jesus is calling you where you are and as you are. What is your response to him?

• What do you want to tell him?

Day 7: After responding to Jesus, Matthew celebrated his call by inviting Jesus to dinner.

• Who were the guests in the dinner?

• The Pharisees were strict observers of the Law. They always strive to be pure according to the Law. This is why they never associate with 'sinners'. What was Jesus telling the people by associating with those hated by the people?

• Jesus compared the sinners to those who are sick. As such, he is the physician. Since everyone is a sinner, everyone is sick. Is there something in you that requires healing? Is there a sin within you that needs to be healed? Come to Jesus because he calls you and he wants to heal you. What do you want to tell Jesus?

• Jesus commands the Pharisees to learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”. What does this mean to you?