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LECTIO: EUCHARIST FOR DISCIPLESHIP GROUPS MIRACLES OF EXODUS SESSION 4

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“And the whole congregation of the people of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and said to them, ‘Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.’ Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.’ So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, ‘At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your murmurings against the Lord. For what are we, that you murmur against us?’ And Moses said, ‘When the Lord gives you in the evening flesh to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your murmurings which you murmur against him—what are we? Your murmurings are not against us but against the Lord.’” —Exodus 16:2-8

Let joys be joined to solemn feasts. Let praises from the depths resound. Let old things pass, make all things new. Let heart and voice and works abound.

Recall that final evening meal when Christ did offer lamb and bread according to the ancient law from patriarchs inherited:

The feast of the Paschal lamb now over, the Body of the Lord was shared. Thus everything, to all and each, from his own hands was then declared. Amen.

—St. Thomas Aquinas’ Eucharistic hymn “Sacris Solemniis Juncta Sint Gaudia” (“Let Joys Be Joined to Solemn Feasts”) from The Aquinas Prayer Book, Sophia Institute Press

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Copyright © 2015/2016 Augustine Institute. All rights reserved.

SESSION 4: MIRACLES OF EXODUS

PARTICIPANT GUIDE 1TM

OPENING PRAYER

PART 1: MANNA FROM HEAVEN

REVIEW QUESTIONS

» What was one thing that you heard for the first time or that was an “aha moment” for you in Dr. Pitre’s teaching?

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» The Israelites complain because they long for the food they ate in Egypt, even though they ate it as slaves. What do you think are some common reasons for falling back into slavery to sin?

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» What can you do to fight against this in your life?

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» How can you encourage someone else in this struggle this week?

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2TM Copyright © 2015/2016 Augustine Institute. All rights reserved.

DISCUSS


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» God instructs the Israelites to gather only enough manna for one day (and a double portion before the Sabbath). How does God teach his people to trust in him and his provision with this command?

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» How do God’s small actions in our own daily lives teach us to trust him?

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GO DEEPER QUESTIONS

» Manna from heaven was a daily supernatural event. In the Mass, the ringing of the bells during Mass alerts us to supernatural events. What are those events?

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» In making a reference to the manna, Jesus speaks of himself as “the bread which comes down from heaven” (John 6:50). The Church teaches that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist: Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Why do you think the Church expresses Jesus’ real presence in this way?

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4TM

Lord Jesus Christ, you are constantly by our side, sustaining us on our journey. Help us to be more aware of your presence, to turn to you in our need, and to live our lives in such a way That we help strengthen the faith of those around us. Amen.



CLOSING PRAYER

PARTICIPANT GUIDE

5TM

“All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the Lord, and camped at Reph’idim; but there was no water for the people to drink. Therefore the people found fault with Moses, and said, ‘Give us water to drink.’ And Moses said to them, ‘Why do you find fault with me? Why do you put the Lord to the proof?’ But the people thirsted there for water, and the people murmured against Moses, and said, ‘Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?’ So Moses cried to the Lord, ‘What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.’ And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand the rod with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, that the people may drink.’ And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the faultfinding of the children of Israel, and because they put the Lord to the proof by saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’”

—Exodus 17:1-7

Let joys be joined to solemn feasts. Let praises from the depths resound. Let old things pass, make all things new. Let heart and voice and works abound.

Recall that final evening meal when Christ did offer lamb and bread according to the ancient law from patriarchs inherited:

the feast of the Paschal lamb now over, the Body of the Lord was shared. Thus everything, to all and each, from his own hands was then declared. Amen.

—St. Thomas Aquinas’ Eucharistic hymn “Sacris Solemniis Juncta Sint Gaudia” (“Let Joys Be Joined to Solemn Feasts”) from The Aquinas Prayer Book, Sophia Institute Press

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OPENING PRAYER

PART 2: WATER FROM THE ROCK

PARTICIPANT GUIDE

6TM

REVIEW QUESTIONS

» What was one thing that you heard for the first time or that was an “aha moment” for you in Dr. Pitre’s teaching?

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» When the Israelites were thirsty, they accused Moses of bringing them out into the wilderness to die. Can you think of a time when you found God’s plan difficult to understand?

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» Moses calls the place where this occurs “Massah” and “Meribah,” because the Israelites put God to the test. What do you think is the difference between “struggling with faith” and “putting God to the test”?

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» What advice would you give to someone testing God like the Israelites did?

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DISCUSS

PARTICIPANT GUIDE

7TM

» According to Dr. Pitre, why is Moses punished so severely for striking the rock?

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» As we discovered in the story of Moses, there is great responsibility in leadership. How is this true today for leaders both in and outside the Church?

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GO DEEPER QUESTIONS

» St. Paul writes to the Corinthians: “And all ate the same supernatural food and all drank the same supernatural drink. For they drank from the supernatural Rock which followed them, and the Rock was Christ” [1 Corinthians 10:3-4]. From the time of St. Paul, it has been the Tradition of the Church that the Liturgy and the sacraments were born from Christ’s pierced side when blood and water flowed. How does this stress the importance of the sacraments in the Christian life?

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» Some have criticized the sacraments as empty rituals. How can we be sure that Jesus instituted the sacraments and entrusted them to the Church?

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Lord Jesus Christ, you are constantly by our side, sustaining us on our journey. Help us to be more aware of your presence, to turn to you in our need, and to live our lives in such a way that we help strengthen the faith of those around us. Amen.


CLOSING PRAYER

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NOTES



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