31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Malachi 1: 14b-2:2b
2. Psalms 131: 1, 2, 3
3. 1 Thessalonians 2: 7b-9, 13
4. Matthew 23:1-12

• Solidarity
• We are called to be mindful of our essential oneness as God's creation, the essential fact that before God, all of us are His creatures, all of us draw breath because He wills it.  But sometimes, that's hard to remember.
• What are our responsibilities to those living life on the margins, the less advantaged?
• Does it matter how they got there, how much of their circumstances are their own decision?
• How can there be true justice in our dealings with others?

• Finding peace
• You have a big deadline at work, the hot water heater is broken at home, your management is making noises about another layoff and your spouse tells you that their back hurts.  You know that you need to find some peace.
• Where do you go looking?  Is peace found in a place, a set of practices, burning candles?
• Once you get to that "peace zone", what difference does it make to coping with the stresses of day to day life?
• Where does God fit into your peace picture?

• Sharing is caring
• Which is better, to do volunteer work at some charity, or to give them money to support their operations?
• If you get paid for your work, but you are horribly underpaid, can that still be working for God?
• What does money have to do with it anyway?
• The early preachers often received money for their preaching.  Paul however, broke with tradition and earned a living so that those he preached to did not have to pay him.  Some would say that he watered down his preaching by doing so, others would say that he was an inspiration.  Yet others would say that he was killing himself by working too hard.  Which is it?

• Victim of your own image
• We all have an image that others have of us.  Most of us are blissfully unaware of what the image is, unless someone shares something like "you know, you've always been a real shining example to me of the strength that comes with steadily following God over many years."  Suddenly, we become self conscious, wonder how true that really is, and wonder how true we are to what others think of us.
• How do we remain authentic to the rest of the community about who we really are?
• How does the sacrament of Confession fit into that transparency picture?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Where are there opportunities for me to be justice for others?
2. Where does my hope lay?
3. How does my work support my prayer?
4. How honest am I willing to be?

Shalom!