33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20
2. Psalms 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5
3. 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6
4. Matthew 25: 14-30

• Giving generously
• Who are some of the generous people in your life?
• What of themselves do they give that impresses you?
• Does it matter more that we give generously or effectively?
• What do you think makes a person a cheerful giver?

• Eating the fruit of your labors
• We all feel that life should be fair, that hard work should pay off, that the investments that we make in life should have predictable results.
• Has that worked out in your life?
• What does that tell you about God's work in your life?
• Does it tell you anything about justice?

• Being ready
• There's a story that W. C. Fields was near death, confined to his bed, when an old friend came to visit and unaccountably found Mr. Fields reading his Bible.  The friend asked incredulously "what on earth are you doing?".  Mr. Fields replied "cramming for finals."
• What's wrong with that approach to life?
• Do you think that it's possible to be too ready for eternity?
• Is there a balance that needs to be struck between the day to day and the eternal?
• If so, how do you find it?

• Day of reaconing
• We are a people of grace, so salvation for us is at Christ's initiative, not ours.
• And yet, we know that our lives will be somehow weighed against what God had intended for us.  How do you think that you will come out?
• Do you think that we get any sort of progress report along the way?
• How do we tell if/when we are on the right track in the meanwhile?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Who am I giving my life to?  Who am I giving my life for?
2. What expectations do I have of God?
3. What sort of eternity am I readying myself for?
4. How am I getting the right perspective in life?

Finding your genius

I once worked with a guy, his name was Jeff.

He was pretty quiet, never beat his own drum.

Yet when I had a particularly challenging project,

I'd do what I could to get Jeff on it

Because Jeff always seemed to make things go smoother.

I never really figured him out, try as I might.

I figured if I could somehow teach others his approach,

Soon the world would be a better place for it.

Wherever Jeff went, people got along better,

What needed to be done somehow got done.

And it wasn't just Jeff's direct work at all.

Somehow, he inspired others to lend a hand

Give support, help each other out

Always at just the right time and place.

He was a genuine force multiplier.

I think about him often when I see folks

Talking about the skills they want to acquire,

What they want to do in life to make it rich

Thinking that all they have to do is get 

The right certificate, the right degree.

Where I would say to them, learn from Jeff.

When you get up in the morning, ask yourself

Where you can help the most, 

Where you can lend a hand

Where a quiet boost will do wonders.

If only we lived in a world that valued such.

I think that the Jeffs in the world would come forth

And teach the rest of us how to help each other more

And look for our own glory less.

Jeff is a genius, just not the obvious kind.

Shalom!