The following questions can be used for personal reflection and community sharing. It may be good to start the meeting by reading a relevant Gospel passage, e.g., John 13: 1-17, which speaks of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples and what he told them during and after that gesture.
Each person needs a copy of this page and a pen. After the gospel reading, each one takes 8-10 minutes to fill in the questionnaire. This is followed by sharing in small groups of three or four. If the community or family or parish group is larger, it is better to split into smaller groups. In larger groups, the sharing will not be effective. Do not pressurize anyone to say more than what they are comfortable with.
Questions for reflection and sharing
- Recall a touching act of loving service someone did for you, like what Jesus did. What was the gesture? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Who did it? ………………………………….. How did you feel during the act? ………………………. How do you feel about it now? ………………………………………………………………………………..
- Recall an act of loving service you did for someone else or for a group, especially one that cost you. What did you do? ………………………………………………………………………………..
How did you feel while doing it? ……………………………………………………………………………….
How do you feel about it now? …………………………………………………………………………………
- Recall a happy and loving community/family/parish you have been part of. What made it a loving and joyful experience for the members? ……………………………………………………
- Will employees and visitors be impressed by the love, joy and mutual service in your present family/community/parish? Yes/No.
- What needs to be done to improve it? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
- A Christian family/religious community/parish should be marked by joy, love and service of the needy. Recall a leader (parent, superior, parish priest) who led the community in this way: …………………………………………. What did s/he do that helped the group to be marked by love, joy and service? ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
- Recall an ordinary member of your family, religious community or parish whose presence and behaviour brought a sense of joy, love and service to the group: ………………… What have your learnt from this person’s example? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
- List at least THREE CONCRETE STEPS you will take to make your family/religious community/parish a home of love, joy and service. (Examples: Pray for those who have hurt you, rather than speak ill of them; volunteer to help with extra work; speak well of others in their absence; treat employees lovingly; be nice to the poor people who come for help; show warm hospitality to visitors, …)
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