18th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Exodus 16: 2-4, 12-15
2. Psalms 78: 3-4, 23-24, 25, 54
3. Ephesians 4: 17, 20-24
4. John 6: 24-35

• Food anxiety is never easy
• Poor Moses didn't have a good lawyer on his staff at the time, or else he would have had the children of Israel all sign a waiver to the effect that they forfeit all rights to anything that they were familiar and comfortable with, in exchange for their freedom.
• Do you think that God categorically has an issue with us being comfortable in life?
• If not, when do you think that God does take issue with comfort?
• How do you tell when your comforts are holding you back from God?

• There's a time and a place for everything
• We like to know how everything will work out before we venture into anything new, but that does not seem to be the way of things in God's service.
• When was the last time that you took a new beginning, without knowing how all of your needs would be met.
• Why did you take that risk?
• How did it turn out?
• Did you end up needing everything that you thought that you would need?
• How did that experience of uncertainty change you?

• Discerning desires
• Are all of our desires necessarily bad?
• Where do those desires come from?
• Do you think that God is interested in meeting any of them?
• How/where can our desires lead us astray?
• How/where can they lead us toward God?

• God is everywhere
• Jesus fed those folks for any number of reasons, but one reason certainly was to show them the Father's compassion and generosity, another to show them that God stood ready to meet all of their needs, physical and not.
• Do you think that ministry to the needy has to address all of their needs, no matter how diverse those needs are?
• Typically in a homeless shelter, the homeless get treated to a sermon first, then food.  Many of the homeless take the opportunity to grab a quick nap before eating.
• Is there anything wrong with that picture?

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Am I willing to turn my back on what is comfortable and familiar in favor of a fuller life?
2. How do I see God providing for me in the context of my service to Him?
3. What desires of my heart do I need to bring to God in prayer?
4. What generosity does God look for from me this week?

Shalom!