5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for this 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Job 7: 1-4, 6-7
2. Psalm 147: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
3. 1 Corinthians 9: 16-19, 22-23
4. Mark 1: 29-39

1. Life is short
• What do you want to be remembered for when you're gone?
• Why are those things important to you?
• Are all of them important to God?
• How do you know?
2. Healing the brokenhearted
• What has God done in your life lately that has given you real joy?
• Why was that event/touch/person so meaningful to you?
• How/when do you talk with God about such gifts?
3. Being the Good News
• Have you ever known someone who really needed Jesus, whose life clearly was less than God's abundance had for them?
• How did you respond to that need?
• How do you approach someone in that sort of position without sounding "preachy", or arrogant?
4. Going where you're needed
• If you are really good at something, and you feel comfortable in that role, is there anything wrong with staying in the comfort zone?
• How do you cope with change in your life?
• How do you know when God is calling you to move into something new?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. If I wrote my own eulogy, would anything that I've done this past week be in that eulogy?
2. When was the last time that I really took stock of the graces that God has given me?
3. How do I share my faith with others?
4. Is God calling me to move on, move out in any way in my life?

The Gift of Letting Go

Sometimes, the pithy sayings are the hardest ones to really get a grip on.

"Let go and let God" would be one that particularly gives me difficulties.

Moving into new things has never been comfortable to me.

I'm not like some restless souls, always scanning the horizon.

My focus is much closer to home, much more immediate.

And when I get well established in some place some role, some ministry,

It's hard to remember that I got here because of a call,

And I can just as easily find myself drawn to the next calling.

Living with my bags packed and ready to go is hard.

I want to know that the settling in will be awhile.

I just pray that I finally arrive at a place in life,

Where staying close to Jesus means more to me than staying close to where I am.