Opening Prayer Led by Group Facilitator

Proverbs 10:1-16

Pray the Canticle of Tobit together aloud, alternating verses between two sides.  When finished, share reflections on the canticle as a group

1  A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.

3 The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

5 A son who gathers in summer is prudent, but a son who sleeps in harvest brings shame.

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

8 The wise of heart will heed commandments, but a prating fool will come to ruin.

9 He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.

10 He who winks the eye causes trouble, but he who boldly reproves makes peace.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.

13 On the lips of him who has understanding wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

14 Wise men lay up knowledge, but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near.

15 A rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

16 The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.

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.

The Home of the Father

Luke 15:11-32

1.       What expectations, priorities and standards were evidently important to my father in my home? Which did I accept? Which did I resist?

2. What expectations, priorities and standards have been important in the home I have established? Which have been accepted? Which have been resisted?

3. How have I seen my father “evolve” over the course of my life in his emphasis & priorities? How do I assess his evolution?

4. How have I “evolved” in my own emphasis and priorities from adolescence to young adulthood, to early parenthood, until now?

Resolutions

Choose a resolution for this week from the suggestions below or make your own. Click/Tap on a resolution to email it to yourself:

1. I will schedule time with my father to ask for his advice about how to best communicate expectations, priorities and standards in my home.
2. I will compose a list of expectations, priorities and standards for our home.
3.   I will discuss with my wife how we will more effectively address resistance to the expectations we have established in our home.
4.   I will write down ways in which low expectations and standards negatively affected myself or my siblings.  I will share this list with my spouse.
5.   I will evaluate in my journal any areas of my fatherhood that have evolved since my first child was born.  I will initiate any necessary corrections to excessive or lax standards that I find.

Previous Resolutions - Luke 2

Prayer Partners

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