Questions for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for this Second Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. 1 Samuel 3: 3b-10, 19
2. Psalms 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
3. 1 Corinthians 13c-15a, 17-20
4. John 1: 35-42

1. Here I am
• How is God revealing Herself to you of late?
• Do you feel that God's self-revelation to you has changed at all over the years?
• How are you revealing yourself to God?
2. I come to do your will
• Do you feel that God's will is framed as a series of do's and don'ts that apply universally, or does God have something specific in mind for you?
• If you had to characterize the relationship that God has with you, would you say God's like:
• coach
• mentor
• teacher/rabbi
• counselor
• ...
• Why is it that you try to obey God's will in your life?
• Does that motivation depend on what you feel God is asking of you?
3. Tabernacling
• If God is all powerful, omnipresent throughout time and space, why does He crave to manifest His Presence through us?
• Why do you think that our bodies have to be involved in all of that?
• What do you think that implies about how we treat our bodies, ourselves?
• Would that include getting a pedicure for Jesus?
4. What are you looking for?
• When you approach God in prayer, what are you trying to accomplish long term?
• Have you ever shared that with God?
• How is that working out for you?
• Do you think that there's any way to improve your prayer life?
• What's stopping you?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What has God been calling me to lately?  Am I acting on that call?
2. Do I feel that I can talk about the really important, urgent things with God?
3. Have I been treating this body as though it's borrowed from God?
4. What am I willing to leave behind to follow Jesus?

Come and See

Growing up, I would run into evangelists.

They would start in on me, thinking that I looked receptive.

I'd tell them that I was Christian, and then they would ask:

"Brother, how many have you saved today?"

That question bespoke an urgency

A drive to get everyone into the fold

Before it was too late.

I never knew what to say to that question.

Hospitality begins with each of us.

Revealing us, our community,

As a place where others can meet the God who has already called them

Providing them a home.

No one of us can be community

But together we offer a place

Where the weary find rest, and purpose.

Which leaves me with the question -

If someone asks me about this Jesus I follow,

Where do I take them?  The front office,

Bring them along with me to Choir?

Invite them to a Confirmation class?

At the same time, there's something impersonal

About just handing someone off to a committee.

They just made a tentative contact,

And now they are in the hands of specialists.

Lord, teach me how best to be inviting

That I might shine to those who hunger for you

That I might be the Andrew

To the next Peter.

Shalom!