- Isaiah 11: 1-10
- Psalm 72: 1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17
- Romans 15: 4-9
- Matthew 3: 1-12
- Strength through competition?
- Competition is highly prized in our culture. We see it as a way of weeding out the weak, the lazy, the unworthy.
- Do you think that competing with one another for honor, achievement, success, fame, might have a downside to it?
- Do you think that Jesus ever felt as though He was competing with anyone?
- When/where is competition a good thing and when might it be bad?
- A well endowed ruler
- Regardless of your party affiliation, I think that we all hope for those in power to be guided by wisdom.
- What can we do to help that to happen?
- What other values are we competing with? What other qualities are often deemed more important in a leader?
- Do you think God wants us to pray for them, and if so, how?
- Running the race
- Life is not like a marathon. In a marathon, you have finishers and, folks who just paid the entrance fees. We have no choice, we have to finish this life at some point.
- What makes for a good finish in this life?
- How can we prepare for that, given that we don't know how or when it will come to us?
- How is a good death a gift to the survivors?
- Chicken and egg syndrome
- We have all heard of folks who want to change, but just feel trapped by their circumstances, often of their own making.
- Think of something that you really want to change about yourself.
- How can you make a commitment to make that change?
- Who would you make that commitment to?
- Would such a commitment be at all sacramental?
- What have I done to shelter or aid the weak?
- What do I hope for from our leadership? Do I have the courage to aim higher?
- What am I doing to increase my spiritual endurance?
- What are some Liturgical New Year's resolutions that I need to make and start right now?
Keep me honest
Is something I often ask of my students.
It's meant as an invitation to tell me when I stray
From the published curriculum when I lecture off the cuff.
I would much rather use prepared material, believe me.
Who are the John the Baptists in your life?
Or the Nathans for that matter?
Ones so close to you,
That you would rather they call you out in your sin and weakness.
Such friends are a miracle
That require careful cultivation and care
For they risk much when speaking to you
Both in the relationship and personally.
Yet without such friends,
We have such a hard time staying true to our course.
Confusion over direction and duration can set in,
Unless an outside observer is ready with a reminder -
Of just who we really are
Someone to recall us to the rest of our life
Show us that all that has gone on before is source for what's next
And what's next is the spring for tomorrow's new horizons.
Shalom!
It's meant as an invitation to tell me when I stray
From the published curriculum when I lecture off the cuff.
I would much rather use prepared material, believe me.
Who are the John the Baptists in your life?
Or the Nathans for that matter?
Ones so close to you,
That you would rather they call you out in your sin and weakness.
Such friends are a miracle
That require careful cultivation and care
For they risk much when speaking to you
Both in the relationship and personally.
Yet without such friends,
We have such a hard time staying true to our course.
Confusion over direction and duration can set in,
Unless an outside observer is ready with a reminder -
Of just who we really are
Someone to recall us to the rest of our life
Show us that all that has gone on before is source for what's next
And what's next is the spring for tomorrow's new horizons.
Shalom!
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