Theme:

The theme for this Sunday is one of joy. It also speaks of the power of God and his humility.

Questions:

Day 1: The first reading is also the same one used for Palm Sunday. It shows the Messiah coming to Jerusalem as a triumphant king.

• The first reading commands Zion (or Israel) to rejoice greatly. It also commands Jerusalem to shout aloud. What is the mood of this psalm?

• The first reading continues to say that the king comes triumphant and victorious. Is this your idea of God? If not, how can you reconcile it with what scripture says?

• If God is a triumphant God, what does it say about how he can handle your problems and difficulties?

• What do you want to tell him?

Day 2: After speaking of a triumphant God, Zechariah speaks of the humility of God..

• What does it mean when we say that God is humble? How is this relevant to you?

• The passage continues to describe victory over all the enemies. It speaks of God commanding peace to the nations. God can also command peace in your life. Do you want this peace that God can give? What do you want to say to God?

• The passage ends with saying that God has dominion from sea to sea. What does this mean? If God is powerful, what can he not do?

• What do you want to tell the Lord?

Day 3: The psalm is a praise to God for his mercy.

• The psalm says that the Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love. How is this relevant to you?

• After reading this, some may say that one can do whatever one wants since God abounds in love. How is this reasoning wrong?

• The psalm says that the Lord upholds those who are falling and raises those who are bowed down. How is this relevant to you?

• Is there anything you want to tell the Lord about your situation?

Day 4: The first part of the second reading speaks of belonging to Jesus.

• St. Paul says that the Spirit dwells in you. What did he mean by that?

• He also said that if one does not have the Spirit of Christ, one does not belong to Christ. What does it mean to have the Spirit of Christ?

• What does it mean to belong to Christ?

Day 5: The second part speaks of being raised from the dead and living in the Spirit.

• How does the Spirit gives life to your mortal bodies? How is this relevant to your struggle against your sinfulness?

• St. Paul says that if one lives according to the flesh, one will die? What does this mean?

• The second reading ends saying that one has to put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. How can you do that?

• What will you tell the Holy Spirit about your struggle with your sinfulness?

Day 6: The gospel reading is a praise to the Father from Jesus and it is also an invitation to come to Jesus.

• In the gospel reading, Jesus said that the Father has hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent. Does this mean that the wise and intelligent will never understand the things of God? What did he really mean by this?

• Jesus said that the Father reveals these things to infants. What did he mean by that?

• Jesus then said that no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Based on this, how can you know the Father?

• If knowledge of the Father is a revelation, what do you have to do to respond to this revelation?

Day 7: The second part of the gospel is an invitation to you.

• To whom did Jesus extend this invitation? Do you believe that this invitation extends to you?

• What does it mean to come to Jesus? What will Jesus do to those who come to him?

• What does he expect from those who come to him?

• Jesus describes himself as gentle and humble in heart. What did he mean by that?

• If you are burdened or troubled, Jesus extends this invitation to you. He is faithful and he will fulfill his word. What will you tell him?