5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Job 7: 1-4, 6-7
2. Psalms 95: 147: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
3. 1 Corinthians 9: 16-19, 22-23
4. Mark 1: 29-39

• Reason for hope
• Have you ever had someone in your life with a terminal illness, or perhaps they were simply well along in life and it seemed the only thing that changed from one month to the next was the load of medication they were taking or what new limitation they had to live with?
• Is there any reason for hope in such situations?
• What sort of meaning can be had from a life that apparently has so little to look forward to?
• Is there any way that such a person can be an inspiration to others? 

• Called by name
• In our Western world, our name has become nothing more than a text-based alternative to our social security number.  But that name means far more.  To be called by name means that we are understood, appreciated, accepted by the other.
• Do you feel that God accepts you right the way that you are, or do you feel that God has a "to do" list for you of things that need work?
• If you feel that God has that list for you, what would be different in your life if you ever worked through that list?  Would God love you better then?
• Have you ever thought about giving that list up to God?

• The drive of the Gospel - (The bracketed sections are optional)
• Among ourselves, we would all likely say that God has blessed us over and over[, that our relationship to Jesus is the single thing that truly defines us, that life makes sense in the context of God, and no other].
• And, sadly, we all know others who struggle to find meaning in life[, who struggle with catastrophes in their lives from health issues, children who don't share their parent's values, jobs that seem calculated to grind them into dust,] and we wonder whether the faith that we have could help that other person somehow.
• If you were to invite some friend to Church with you, where would you take them?
• Are you sure that they would find a warm welcome there?

• Taking time to pray
• Jesus apparently struggled with a work/life balance as well.  He had to almost "sneak away" to get prayer time along with His Father.
• Why do you think that the Gospels have so little recorded teaching from Jesus about prayer, yet you go into any Christian bookstore and you can find row upon row of books about prayer?
• What do you think Jesus had to pray about?
• Why is it that we never hear in the Gospels about group prayer?

Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What do I hope for/hope in?
2. Am I living the name, the destiny that God has for me?
3. How can I make my parish more inviting?
4. What am I doing to better my prayer life?

Shalom!