4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Deuteronomy 18: 15-20
2. Psalms 95: 1-2, 6-7, 7-9
3. 1 Corinthians 7: 32-35
4. Mark 1: 21-28

• Being accountable
• Every once in a great while, someone will let me know that they were paying attention to something that I'd said, something about the way that I live, and it makes me feel appreciated, until I realize with a jolt the responsibility that puts on me.
• Our very lives speak of our relationship to God.  Is there anyone on your life that you would trust to let you know if you are straying from God's best for you?
• Would you be willing to be that witness for anyone else? 

• Praying for the desire
• One of the freeing tenets of Ignatian spirituality is that God meets us wherever we are.  If we have no desire for, say humility, praying to have the desire to pray for humility is enough for God's graces to start coming our way.  I'm not sure about praying for the desire for the desire for humility though ...
• In a similar way, it's worthy of us as His children to pray that our hearts be softened, knowing that this can often be a long process, and there may be setbacks along the way.
• Are there any issues, perspectives, tightly held prejudices that you have that you would like to open up to God?
• Such softening of the heart is often a frightening thing for us.  Why do you think that is?
• What do those fears say of us and our relationship to God?

• Walk in a Relaxed Manner
• Sr. Joyce Rupp, in her book Walk in a Relaxed Manner mentions intentionally giving up things in her life in order to make room for better, more important things.
• Why do you think that we get so attached to items like a sense of accomplishment, a sense of belonging, or a sense of security?
• Do you think that God will always be faithful to us in those areas?
• How do you simplify your life as you have gone along lately?
• What else do you think you'll shed in the years to come?

• Taking time to ponder
• This Gospel reading is full of drama.  You have to wonder whether any of those who witnessed this liberation pondered what they had seen and wondered what it really meant.
• Are there any things that you would like to be liberated from in your life?
• Jesus Himself isn't going to be in the temple anytime soon, so how do you think you might bring something like that to Him to free you?
• What makes you think that God wants to free you of that burden?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Who are the prophets in my life?
2. What are the areas in my life that I need to be more open about?
3. What am I most attached to?  Are any of those getting in the way between me and God?
4. What has Jesus freed me of lately?

Shalom!