Lent is the perfect time to read and reflect for twenty minutes each day, and to gather once a week with a small group to discuss our special questions designed to bring out the Lenten themes in Book I. One participant wrote at the end of Lent: “I would love to continue…I am really enjoying this. I feel God sent you to our parish to help me grow more spiritually. I am learning a lot. Thank you!” Others have said that they are praying more and in new ways, as well as learning to speak up in a group discussion.
Below is a sample from the first meeting; for a full reading guide with all the discussion questions, click here to contact us.
Group Discussion Questions for First Meeting of Lent
Please listen carefully to others in your group and remember to guard carefully any personal information that is shared. Open by saying an “Our Father” together.
1 ) On Ash Wednesday, as we receive ashes on our foreheads, we hear, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” or “Repent, and believe in the Gospel (Good News).” Discuss how each of the people in the story has felt their own spiritual or physical weakness/dust, and also the ability to repent and/or have hope because of Jesus.
2) During the Catholic Mass, the prayer “Lord, have mercy” is often prayed in Greek as kyrie eleison, in the language of the Bible and the original language of the liturgy. The Greek word for mercy emphasizes not so much a feeling of compassion, but action to help the person in need. The phrase, “Lord, have mercy,” is prayed several times in the story when people are in a state of spiritual or physical dust. Why are they praying this prayer? How do they need God’s help? (See footnoted phrase at the bottom of page 21 and the second paragraph on page 29 that continues onto page 30).
Why is the phrase “Lord, have mercy” an important prayer for Lent? How does it both acknowledge that we are dust and show that we believe there is good news for those who repent?
3) Lent is traditionally a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (helping those in need). The word used for almsgiving in the Bible is a variation of the word used for mercy. As we get in touch with our own need to pray, “Lord, have mercy,” we also practice giving mercifully to others. The seven corporal works of mercy are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting prisoners, burying the dead, and giving alms to the poor (see Matthew 25:35-36). The seven spiritual works of mercy are counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, admonishing the sinner, comforting the sorrowful, forgiving injuries, bearing wrongs patiently, praying for the living and the dead. Discuss how at least seven of these works of mercy were done in these chapters.
Which of these works of mercy do you practice regularly? Which do you need to practice more during Lent?
4) – Chapter 8, “Speaking the Truth in Love,” deals with showing mercy in thoughts and words about others. List some loving ways truth has been spoken in the story so far. What are some unloving ways truth has been or might have been spoken?
– Look at footnote 1 on pages 43-44. In what kinds of situations does love require us to be silent or discreet about the truth?
– Look at the footnote on page 42. What is “rash judgment”? Has anyone in the story been guilty of that so far? Have you been tempted to make rash judgments as you have read?
– Look at footnote 1 on page 44. Does that clarify anything in the story?
– Be sure to keep these ideas in mind as you share in your group. Be merciful as you listen by avoiding making rash judgments. Be merciful as you share by protecting the privacy of your family and friends as you share about events in your own life. Protect one another’s privacy as you share what you have learned when you go home.
5) – What about the anointing struck you? (See pages 29-30.) If you feel comfortable, share about anointings you or a loved one have received.
– What is the difference between the Anointing of the Sick and Last Rites? (See footnote 1, page 28, and footnote 1, page 29.)
– Where does the Bible talk about anointing the sick? (See the beginning of the second paragraph on page 29.)
– Why is the Anointing of the Sick not just between the priest and the sick person? (See footnote 2, page 29.)
6) – How do you feel about the confession on pages 31-32?
– Why did the priest say, “I can’t tell anyone what you tell me, even if the police ask me”? (See footnote on page 31.)
– Why did she “not feel any lighter” after absolution? Does true penance sometimes involve righting wrongs, as well as saying prayers?
7) One man in the story is a priest and one is preparing to be a priest. Discuss some of their struggles. Discuss some of their joys. (See pages 21-25, 29-32).
8) On page 32, hearing a Rosary and thinking about Mary gave one person the courage to start a difficult conversation. What difficult things did Mary do in her life? Has Mary ever helped you do difficult things?
9) Last Sunday’s readings were about having hope because God has given us the rainbow as a sign that He will show mercy rather than destroy the earth. Next Sunday’s readings are about Abraham giving up his only son Isaac, God showing mercy by sparing Isaac, and God showing mercy by giving up His only son Jesus. Watch to see how these themes are emphasized in the story as you read.
10) Pray this concluding prayer together: “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord, You have shown us that we need Your mercy and others need our mercy. Lord, have mercy. Help us to come to You humbly and daily with that prayer and to say it with a priest in the confessional when we need to. Christ, have mercy. Show us how we can mercifully help those in our families, our neighborhoods, our places of work, and our parish. Speak to us as we read daily. Lord, have mercy. We ask this in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Adventures in the Great Mystery 