24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Isaiah 50: 4c-9a
2. Psalms 116: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
3. James 2: 14-18
4. Mark 8: 27-35

1. Disgrace is only skin deep
• In Semitic cultures, a man's beard is a deeply personal metaphor for his vitality, his strength, his very manhood.  To pluck it is not only painful, but a direct attack on his essence.
• What are some things in your life that you hold very personally?
• Your job,
• Your home,
• Your family?
• To what extent would you be able to trust those to God?
2. God is here, whether we see Him or not
• What are some sources of pain in your life:
• Insecurity
• People who don't/won't understand and appreciate you
• Stresses from more demands on you than you can easily meet?
• Why do you think that we experience such things?
• Are they all from God?
• How can we feel, really feel, God's presence in spite of such trials?
3. Mercy inoculations
• If we have a "Faith and Justice" committee at the parish, a group to feed the homeless, is that enough?  What more can God want of me?
• If I gave to the mission last year, what more can God want of me?
• If I took my Confirmation class to feed the homeless downtown, what more can God want of me?
4. Looking for success in all the wrong places
• Every mother wants to be proud of her son.  Do you think that Mary was proud of Jesus during His passion?
• I can see her at the hair-dressers getting ready for Ascension Thursday.  One of the other patrons says "So Mary, I hear that your son got killed by the Romans.  Such a pity.  It's happening all over.  My cousin Rachel's boy was a zealot and they made quick work of him, let me tell you, oy vey."
• Can you see Mary saying "my son, my boy, was scourged, half dragged, half prodded through town like some sorry freak show up to the place of execution where so many of our sons have died before him.  He was hung from a tree between two common criminals.  That hill, that hill was so lonely.  All of his disciples, all of them had disappeared, but John, me, and some of the women of his company.  His once beautiful face distorted by ripples of agony screaming through his body as he hung there, that face looked at me, and I knew that he was there for me, for us, for all of us, and I knew deep agony, and a deeper peace all at once.  And yes, I am proud, proud of my beautiful boy, the joy of my heart.  I mourn for Rachel's son, for all men and women chained unjustly, their dignity stripped from their flayed shoulders, their humanity drowned in pain and shame, and I pray that you will do the same.
• Mary probably had a tough time getting an appointment after that.
• So what is success, what does it look like?  Our world has all sorts of indicators, trappings of success.  What does a Christ-like success look like?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Am I willing to trust God to tell me what makes for success?
2. Do I see myself as one of God's little ones, needing His protection, His support?
3. Is my community more just today than it was a year ago because of me?
4. How humble am I willing to be?

Shalom!