Discussion Questions

First Reading

Acts 13:14, 43-52

F1. “Almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.” Does it seem that they liked what they heard? What made Paul and Barnabas decide to preach to the Gentiles? Was salvation planned for the Gentiles from the beginning or was this a change of plans?

F2. Were Paul and Barnabas instruments in spreading God’s word? Are you an instrument in any way? For racial justice or eco-justice? What did they do when they met with opposition? Is there any situation where “shaking the dust off your feet in protest” and moving on, might help you or the situation?

Second Reading

Revelation 7:9, 14b-17

S1. Do you yourself need to hear “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes,” or are those words for other people?

S2. “They will not hunger or thirst anymore.” When you encounter conflict regarding social justice and the people who suffer because of it, what do you do?  What would you like to do?

Gospel Reading

John 10:27-30

G1. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice.” Do You? Maybe in your heart? Or in homilies, or in the poor, or in people around you? In books, poems, nature? Any of the above? All of the above?

G2. According to Pope Francis, what do the followers of the Good Shepherd do?

Lastly, the … sheep who hear, and who discover they are known, follow: they listen, they feel they are known to the Lord, and they follow the Lord who is their shepherd. What do those who follow Christ do? They go where he goes, along the same path, in the same direction. They go to seek those who are lost (cf. Lk 15:4), they take an interest in those who are far away, take to heart the situation of those who suffer, know how to weep with those who weep, they reach out their hands to their neighbors, carrying them on their shoulders. And me? Do I let Jesus love me, and from allowing him to love me, do I begin to love him, to imitate him? … Hearing him, knowing him, following him.

Pope Francis Angelus
May 8, 2022

Anne Osdieck

**From Saint Louis University