6/5 Reflect on the story below.
There is an old Hasidic story of a rabbi who had a conversation with
the Lord about heaven and hell. “I will show you hell,” said the Lord,
and the Lord led the rabbi into a room in the middle of which was a
very big round table. The people sitting at the table were starving
and desperate. In the middle of the table there was an enormous pot
of stew, more than enough for everyone. The smell of the stew was
delicious and made the rabbi’s mouth water. The people around the
table were holding spoons with very long handles. Each person
found that it was just possible to reach the pot to take a spoonful of
stew, but because the handle of the spoon was longer than anyone’s
arm, no one could get the food into his or her mouth. The rabbi saw
their suffering was indeed terrible. “Now I will show you heaven,”
said the Lord, and they went into another room exactly the same as
the first. There was the same big round table and the same enormous
pot of stew. The people, as before, were equipped with the same long handled
spoons – but they were well nourished and laughing. At first
the rabbi could not understand. “It is simple, but it requires a certain
skill,” said the Lord. – Anonymous
6/6 Our environment influences us. Our environment shapes our vocation. We must
identify and observe our surroundings in order to judge what individuals need and what
we can offer. Given your time here at prep, discuss what you
have seen, heard, and felt in your first few days as a freshman and then ending as a
Senior.- What has changed?
6/7 Respond to the quote below:
“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget
about progress and prosperity for our community…our
ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations
and needs of others, for their own sakes and for our own.”
~ Cesar Chavez, social activist
6/8 Study the Beatitudes. Then reflect on the passage below.
“At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we
have received, how much money we have made or how many great things
we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry and you gave me to eat.
I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in.’
Hungry not only for bread,
but hungry for love.
Naked not only for clothing,
but naked of human dignity and respect.
Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks,
but homeless because of rejection.
6/9 Reflect on the Lyrics below.
“me and all my friends
we’re all misunderstood
they say we stand for nothing and
there’s no way we ever could
no we see everything that’s going wrong
with the world and those who lead it
we just feel like we don’t have the means
to rise above and beat it
so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change”
6/10 Spend some time researching Saint Vincent de Paul. Outline some specific works
of Saint Vincent. How does this inspire you to continue your work in service?
6/11 In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy Read Is 61:1 and then glance
through Luke’s Gospel. In what ways specifically does Jesus serve others? You may
bullet your answer.
6/ 12 In your own words “What Would Jesus Do” (WWJD) in this day and age? How
would he aid us as a community? What “demons” might he be faced with, in helping us to
conquer our misfortunes?
6/13 As the first disciples chose to follow Jesus, they left many things behind… net’s, boats,
even parents---What are you prepared to leave behind in order to follow Jesus and
continue his mission? (HINT- Not necessarily material things!)
6/14 Read Matthew 6:1-4. In your own words, What does this mean? Has there been
a time where you have “blown the trumpet” before your own great deeds? Why or
Why not?
6/15 Respond to the following quote:
You must not abandon the ship in a storm because you cannot control the winds.
What you cannot turn to good, you must at least make as little bad as you can..”
- St Thomas More (Utopia)
6/16 Create a prayer “checklist”. You will gear your prayer to help you at you service site.
Pray for those who you find most challenging. End by praying for yourself to be a more
open to God’s help in your pursuit of success at your site.
6/17 Research “Catholic Social Teaching” out of the 7 principles. Detail each one in your
own words.
6/18 Would you vote for a candidate that supported social issues that are against your
personal faith? Some Catholics choose to vote for officials only in favor of their specific
religious beliefs. What about you? How important are social issues in your life?
6/19 Living in a consumerist society ( America), we always want the bigger better deal.
How important are possessions to you? What possession would you “die” without? Is it
better to live with less but be content with more? Has your experience in service class
affected your view?