THE HE EP EPIS ISTLE TLE OF OF ST. . JAMES AMES SE SESS - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

THE HE EP EPIS ISTLE TLE OF OF ST. . JAMES AMES

SE SESS SSIO ION N 3 ( (PR PRAYER YER)

INTRODUCTION TO PRAYER

• Session 3 is designed to include more small-group

discussion (discussion questions provided)

• “Trifecta” of themes on prayer
• Prayer in general
• First part of James 1
• Woven throughout James 5
• Confession and forgiveness (Jas 5:16-18)
• Anointing (Jas 5:13-15)

PRAYER IN GENERAL

• Exhortation to joy and perseverance
• An appeal to perfection
• Perfection was discussed also in Session 2
• Greek telois (derived from telos, meaning “end”)
• Lacking in wisdom, needing to pray
• Asking…in faith

SUMMARY: PRAYER IN GENERAL

• Perseverance is connected with praying for wisdom
• Perseverance in prayer is a trial to be endured as is

perseverance in any other form of trial

• To persevere, to pray to God, to ask for and thus to

grow in wisdom: this all pertains to the perfection of

• ur very being that God intends for us and for which

we ceaselessly ought to strive

PRAYER IN GENERAL: SMALL-GROUP DISCUSSION

• When have you been made to persevere in

suffering, and how did you do it?

• When have you been made to persevere in prayer?
• What has been your attitude with regard to

prayers answered?

• What have you done (or perhaps failed to do) in

the event of unanswered prayer?

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

• Sacraments of Healing: James’ final word on the matter?
• Confession (Jas 5:16)
• The key verse
• We are exhorted to confess our sins
• We are taught to do so specifically to one another
• And we are taught that doing so brings us healing

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

• Foundational Scripture texts on Sacrament of Reconciliation
• Mk 2:5-7
• Jn 20:21-23
• 2 Cor 5:18-20
• 1 Jn 5:16-17
• These texts reveal several truths regarding sin and forgiveness
• There is deadly sin
• Only God can forgive sin
• God has delegated authority to forgive sin to the bishops and priests of the Church
• We are to cofness our sins to one another
• Because only bishops and priests can forgive sin, to whom else ought we to confess
• ru sins tub tto them, as they alone (by delegation of God( can forgive them?

CONFESSION: AN ANALOGY

• Children playing outside all day….

CONFESSION: A PRIMER

• Examen
• Confession
• Contrition
• Absolution
• satisfaction

CONFESSION: SMALL-GROUP DISCUSSION

• What have been some of your experiences going to

confession?

• What hang-ups do you have (if any) about going to

confession?

ANOINTING

• Anointing (Jas 5:14-15)
• But first…a story from Chewelah
• What is Anointing of the Sick (and what is it not)?
• Who can receive Anointing of the Sick, and under what circumstances?

ANOINTING: SMALL-GROUP DISCUSSION

• Have you ever been anointed? What did you

experience?

• Have you ever been present when someone else

was anointed? What did you observe and experience?

CONCLUSION

• Final remarks
• Q&A/discussion
• Final Prayer
• St. Mary Catholic Parish

Evangelization and discipleship formation

“Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.” (James 1:22)