3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Jonah 3: 1-5, 10
2. Psalms 25: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
3. 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31
4. Mark 1: 14-2

• Being accountable
• Oddly, we are not given any idea of what had aroused God's wrath towards the Ninevites, only that He wanted to warn them.
• When bad things happen to us when we make bad decisions, is that God punishing us?
• When bad things happen to us at all, what do they mean?
• Have you ever had a graced moment, when you were especially close to God, in the setting of hardship or tragedy?
• What made it possible for God to give you that grace?
• What made it possible for you to receive it? 

• The ways of God
• In some ways, Star Wars characters are bigger than life, far far removed from our day to day existence, but maybe not so much.
• Do you see yourself as a knight - someone to defend the defenseless, bring justice to the land, hold evil doers accountable, or do you feel it's fine to support the retired Jedi fund regularly and leave it go at that?
• Do you have a Yoda in your life?
• Would you like one?

• In it for the long run
• There's a great scene in the movie The Intern where Robert De Niro is interviewing for an intern job.  He's 70 years old in the film and they perky young interviewer asks him "where do you see yourself in 10 years?"
• We don't have much of an idea how much longer we have.  For my part, if I knew it was only going to be 10 years, I'd cash out my IRA and to heck with the income tax implications, but I think I'll leave that portfolio where it is for now.  So, how do we live in anticipation of the end of history?
• What are the things about this life that you won't see in the next life that you are going to miss the most?
• What makes you sure those won't be there waiting for you?

• Counting my sins and failings
• At one time, the popular perception of confession was an inventory of the specific sins that you had committed since the last time in the confessional.
• What would you rather be healed of, individual infractions of God's Law, lapses in your faith, distance from God, ...?
• How do you think that you can get to the root of sin in your life?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Who are the prophets in my life?
2. How is God showing me His ways in my life?
3. What am I most attached to?  Are any of those getting in the way between me and God?
4. What have I given up lately to be with Jesus?

Shalom!