- Exodus 17: 3-7
- Psalms 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9
- Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8
- John 4: 5-42
- Gauging by outcomes
- It's natural for us to decide whether something was worth it based on how it "turned out". You start that Masters program, you stress about it for several years, but in the end, it all worked out because you got that degree, you got that rewarding job you were born to, you met the man of your dreams at a convention that your boss sent you on, ...
- How do we know whether something "turned out OK" from God's perspective?
- If we find ourselves in a dry, deserted place, with no visible means of sustaining ourselves, is that proof that we took a wrong turn at the Nile River?
- Grateful can be hard to do
- You often hear it said that the world is full of people who would give they eye teeth to have the problems that you do. Your job is stressful, but at least you have one, and so on.
- What helps you to be genuinely grateful in tough times?
- Have you ever gone through a phase in your life when it was hard to be genuinely grateful for anything?
- How important is that "attitude of gratitude"?
- Making it personal
- It's easy to say that Jesus died for all of us, that sounds noble, heroic. But the thought that Jesus died for each of us is rather mind-boggling.
- Do you ever wonder if Jesus has second thoughts about dying for you?
- Would you have second thoughts if you were in His place?
- How do you think that Jesus manages to love you, in spite of your foibles and failings?
- What would you think of a person who acted that way?
- Ongoing conversion is painful
- This Sunday is the first of the three Scrutinies within the RCIA program. Following this week we get the Gospel story of the man born blind, and then the climactic recounting of the raising of Lazarus. In all three accounts, Jesus has quite the challenge to change people's hearts.
- Why do you think that it sometimes takes so much time and effort to help us "see" things in the spiritual life?
- Why do you think that Jesus bothers? Why not just "zap" us with an insight along the way, rather than this painful, awkward process?
- If these revelations can go on like this, how do you know when you are done and can finally say "ah, now I get it!"
- Am I willing to let my life be transformed by trust?
- What am I doing to find where I'm being stubborn in my life?
- How is Christ's sacrifice transforming my attitude toward Jesus, and myself, today?
- Am I patient enough to be God's presence even to those who are slow to see?
Be careful what you ask for
My aunt Sophie always said "be careful what you ask for, you might get it."
"And Jacob, what's that supposed to tell me?" asked Mirriam in the hot Sinai sun.
"I'm just thinking, here we kept crying out to God for freedom from slavery
Freedom from oppression, freedom from the Egyptians, and look at us."
"I see your point. We're so free that the entire race of us is free to die of thirst out here.
Without anyone to even know. How long before anyone discovers our dead bodies?"
"Maybe never. The buzzards are starting to make me nervous as all get out.
They keep staring at us with those hungry beady eyes, like they know something."
"Do you think this might be some sort of punishment? All the complaining we did
Maybe God just got tired of it. Sometimes, you hurt the ones you love the most."
"Or maybe that Moses character is just as lost as we are. I don't see him with a map.
Who elected him to lead this expedition anyway? I'm thinking we traded one tyrant for another."
"Or maybe this is all about teaching us some things along the way.
Maybe some things like humility and trust."
"That supposes that God is at all interested in us anymore in the first place.
I'm betting He got bored with the whole thing and has moved on."
"Well Jacob, you go your way, I'm going to hope that God has something better in store,
And that He's making us ready for that better, wherever, whenever it is.
From now on, I'll thank you to keep your despair to yourself."
"Huh" Jacob snorted. "Here all this time I thought we were friends."
"And Jacob, what's that supposed to tell me?" asked Mirriam in the hot Sinai sun.
"I'm just thinking, here we kept crying out to God for freedom from slavery
Freedom from oppression, freedom from the Egyptians, and look at us."
"I see your point. We're so free that the entire race of us is free to die of thirst out here.
Without anyone to even know. How long before anyone discovers our dead bodies?"
"Maybe never. The buzzards are starting to make me nervous as all get out.
They keep staring at us with those hungry beady eyes, like they know something."
"Do you think this might be some sort of punishment? All the complaining we did
Maybe God just got tired of it. Sometimes, you hurt the ones you love the most."
"Or maybe that Moses character is just as lost as we are. I don't see him with a map.
Who elected him to lead this expedition anyway? I'm thinking we traded one tyrant for another."
"Or maybe this is all about teaching us some things along the way.
Maybe some things like humility and trust."
"That supposes that God is at all interested in us anymore in the first place.
I'm betting He got bored with the whole thing and has moved on."
"Well Jacob, you go your way, I'm going to hope that God has something better in store,
And that He's making us ready for that better, wherever, whenever it is.
From now on, I'll thank you to keep your despair to yourself."
"Huh" Jacob snorted. "Here all this time I thought we were friends."
Shalom!
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