In December, we begin another liturgical year—Cycle C, the year of Luke. Sometime during the year, perhaps before the First Sunday in Advent, you might consider offering some resources for adult Bible study on Luke’s Gospel.   

One resource you might consider is Journeys Into Luke: 16 Lessons of Exploration and Discovery written by Raymond Apicella. The book is a resource for small groups with discussion questions that lend themselves to Bible-sharing groups rather than small Christian communities. For those of you who may not be familiar with the distinction between the two, I’ll offer a brief explanation.

In Bible study groups, or other small discussion groups, the questions are usually more focused on the topic. The end result is learning more about a subject. With small Christian communities (SCC) or small faith communities (SFC), the discussion questions are focused on how the information or biblical passage affects one’s personal faith. The end result is discovering how to implement the message in one’s daily life.     

That said, it is important to understand that study groups often talk about how they can and do apply what they have learned in their lives. And SCC or SFC are always learning more about themselves, others and their faith. (Click here to see the table of contents for small group resource, Journeys Into Luke.)  

One of my favorite activities is the “Gospel Trivia” game. You’ll find this activity under the section on the New Testament, complete with rules, playing board and questions and answers. (Click here to find the game “Gospel Trivia.”) There are five categories of questions in this game: Infant Narrative; Parables and Teachings; Miracles and Wonders; Passion, Death, Resurrection; and general questions. It shouldn’t be difficult to add a sixth category on the Gospel of Luke to accommodate this year’s liturgical readings.

I’ve had fun playing Jeopardy with this sort of trivia. You can play boys against girls, or divide into small groups of intergenerational people. Winners get to be first in line for food.

Another idea is to send copies of the game home for families to play the week/month before your planned gathering. This gives youngsters a chance to learn about the New Testament in preparation for the parish gathering.

As we approach the beginning of a new liturgical year, it’s a good time to encourage parishioners to get in the practice of preparing themselves for Sunday Eucharist. A former pastor often reminded us that as soon as we begin our physical preparations for Mass (getting dressed, etc.), we need to start preparing our hearts as well. Far too many of us put on our Church face as we enter the church doors—sometimes even arguing with family members on the way there. This lack of sincere preparation for uniting with each other and with Christ in the Eucharist can only hinder true union in the Spirit.

There are many resources available to assist people in reflecting on the Sunday readings—either in preparation for or following the Mass. AmericanCatholic.org (I keep telling folks that it’s so much more than an online catalog!) has an area specifically designed for getting us in the right frame of mind and heart for Sunday Mass. Click here to be connected to Sunday Supplements and Sunday Soundbites. Use these resources to begin preparing yourself for Sunday liturgy and share them with the people to whom you minister. It’s amazing what the Spirit can do in people’s lives when we open ourselves to God’s Word as proclaimed at Sunday Eucharist.

Macrina Scott’s Bible Stories Revisted: Discover Your Story in the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles digs into 24 stories from the Gospel of Luke. Fr. William Kurz offers a tour of Luke and Acts in Following Jesus: A Disciple’s Guide to Luke and Acts. Fr. David Knight’s Living God’s Word: Year C gives you insightful reflections on each week’s Gospel reading from Luke. Add to these the commentaries of Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk on the first and second readings for each week, as found in When God Speaks: Reflections on the First Readings of the Sunday Lectionary and Live Letters: Reflections on the Second Readings of the Sunday Lectionary, and you will be prepared for your journey through the year of Luke.