Turning to God’s Word study groups
Des Moines, Iowa

On Saturday mornings, Christ the King parish hosts a study to discuss the weekend Mass readings. An additional long-standing study group meets on Wednesday nights in a private home to discuss the book of Genesis.

• • • • The next meeting of the Saturday morning study at Christ the King will be at 9 a.m. on February 22 to discuss the weekend readings for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. All are welcome.
      • The next meeting of the private study group focusing on the book of Genesis will be Wednesday, February 19, 2025, to discuss Lesson 16 Isaac Blesses Jacob; Jacob’s Dream at Bethel.

This free study meets at 9 a.m. on Saturdays at Christ the King Catholic Church, 5711 Southwest 9th Street, to discuss the weekend Mass readings. The study is led by Jennifer Phelps (left) with occasional appearances by Matthew Phelps (right). Drop-ins and interested participants, including lectors and members of other parishes, are welcome to join us. The name of the Pastoral Center is painted on the side of the building, which ts toward the back of the main parish parking lot. Enter through the door on the same side of the Pastoral Center. That door is automatically unlocked for our group between 8:45 and 9:15 a.m.

At our next meeting on Saturday, February 22, Scripture passages will cover readings for Sunday, February 23, when the Church will celebrate the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.

the First Book of Samuel 26:2, 7–9, 12–13, 22–23
Psalm 103:1–4, 8,10, 12–13
the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 15:45–49
the Gospel According to Luke 6:27–38

The above readings link to the website of the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops). A link to those readings also is on the homepage of this website along with commentary by Matthew Phelps and a link to his most recent Lost in Translation, which is about wanting & doing. The readings for all of the Sunday Masses are in the lector workbook as well as on the USCCB website. This link is to a USCCB audio recording of the readings for Sunday, February 23, 2025. Information on this page and on the Turning to God’s Word website homepage regularly updates on Mondays.

The following links are to paragraphs listed in the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church that cite passages from the readings for Sunday, February 23, 2025. There are no Catechism paragraphs that cite the First Book of Samuel 26:2, 7–9, 12–13, 22–23.

Psalm 103—paragraph 304
the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 15:45—paragraphs 411, 504
the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 15:47—paragraph 504
the Gospel According to Luke 6:28—paragraph 1669
the Gospel According to Luke 6:31—paragraphs 1789, 1970
the Gospel According to Luke 6:36—paragraphs 1458, 2842

GENESIS BIBLE STUDY
This Bible study group will not meet the weeks of Ash Wednesday (March 5), or Holy Week (April 16). Inclement weather may require a change in the following schedule. A couple of later lessons will be combined to make up some of the time lost due to bad weather, but those lessons have not yet been determined.

February 19, 2025—Lesson 16 Isaac Blesses Jacob; Jacob’s Dream at Bethel
February 26, 2025—Lesson 17 Jacob & Rachel
March 5, 2025—NO CLASS, Ash Wednesday
March 12, 2025—Lesson 18 Jacob Separates from Laban
March 19, 12025—Lesson 19 Jacob Wrestles at Peniel
March 26, 2025—Lesson 20 The Story of Dinah
April 2, 2025—Lesson 21 The Birth of Benjamin & the Death of Rachel
April 9, 2025—Lesson 22 Joseph Is Sold into Slavery by His Brothers
April 16, 2025—NO CLASS Holy Week
April 23, 2025—Lesson 23 Judah & Tamar; Joseph & Potiphar’s Wife
April 30, 2025—Lesson 24 Joseph Interprets Dreams
May 7, 2025—Lesson 25 Joseph’s Brothers Travel to Egypt
May 14, 2025—Lesson 26 Joseph Discloses His Identity to His Brothers
May 21, 2025—Lesson 27 Thus Israel Dwelt in Egypt
May 28, 2025—Lesson 28 Jacob’s Final Words to His Sons