Opening Prayer Led by Group Facilitator

Psalm 25

Pray the Psalm together aloud, alternating verses between two sides.  When finished, share reflections on the Psalm as a group

1  To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

2 O my God, in you I trust, let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

3  Yes, let none that wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

4  Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths.

5  Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.

6  Be mindful of your compassion, O LORD, and of your merciful love, for they have been from of old.

7  Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to your mercy remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O LORD!

8  Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

9  He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

10  All the paths of the Lord are mercy and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

11  For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.

12  Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.

13  He himself shall abide in prosperity, and his children shall possess the land.

14  The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

15  My eyes are ever toward the LORD, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

16  Turn to me, and be gracious to me; for I am lonely and afflicted.

17  Relieve the troubles of my heart, and bring me out of distresses.

18  Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.

19  Consider how many are my foes, and with what violent hatred they hate me.

20  Oh, guard my life, and deliver me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

21  May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.

22  Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

Noah and the Flood

Genesis 5:1-8, 6:1 - 7:24

1.       In Genesis 5, how is God’s creation of Man similar to Adam’s fathering of Seth? In what ways do you resemble your father? In what ways do your sons resemble you? What traits of your parents do you perceive in your children? How do you see Christ in your children?

2.       What wickedness does the LORD perceive? What is his interior response? How does the LORD propose to eliminate wickedness? How does a Patriarch respond to a single instance of wickedness in his offspring? What about chronic wickedness?

3.       How does Noah stand out in the midst of the world? How does a Catholic Patriarch stand out in the midst of the world? How does a Catholic Patriarch “find favor” with the LORD? How does a Catholic Patriarch build a life-giving home in the midst of a “flood” of influences antithetical to the Gospel?

4.       God speaks at length to Noah. How does Noah respond to God in words? In deeds? How does this inform your listening to God? Speaking to God? Obeying God?

Prayer Partners

Discuss with your prayer partner the success/failure of your previous resolution & offer a vocal prayer for one another.