25th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Wisdom 2: 12, 17-20
2. Psalms 54: 3-4, 5, 6-8
3. James 3: 16-4: 3
4. Mark 9: 30-37

• Embracing humility
• In Daniel 6 we read of Daniel's deliverance from the plot of envious government officials to have him killed.  Sounds like a good outcome for anyone who fearlessly follows God.
• Jesus wasn't so lucky, yet no one in history has followed God more closely.  Since His death, Jesus has been joined by countless disciples who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of God, and far more who have lost fortunes, been exiled, ostracized and persecuted for their faith.
• Were all of these men and women of faith delivered in any way?
• If so, delivered from what, exactly?
• Is such deliverance enough, or would you like God to be a little more generous?

• God has a thing for the weak
• Few of us have the experience of outright persecution from anyone for our faith.  But even given that, there are times when your faith has constrained you.  Maybe you were not able to take advantage of some insider trading opportunity, or you don't stay late at work because you know that your family needs you more.
• What was the reward that you expected from that behavior?
• Did that work out?
• Did it matter whether it worked out that way or not?
• Why? 

• Prayer changes things
• When I was a child, a popular slogan was "Prayer changes things!" which I have since come to believe fosters a superstitious attitude toward prayer.  I'd rather that such a bumper sticker read "prayer changes us!".
• Have you ever started praying, perhaps desperately, for one thing, and, over time, that changed to another prayer altogether?
• Why do you think that happened?
• How can we make ourselves more open to that process?

• The margins
• In Jesus' day, children were very much at the margins of society, without anyone but their parents to look after them.  There was nothing more destitute than an orphan.
• Who are some of those that you have served, benefited, who will never be able to repay you?
• Why did you perform those services?
• How did that service bring you closer to Jesus?
• How did that service make you more like Jesus?

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What do I want to be delivered from?  What/who do I want to be delivered to?
2. What/who threatens me?  Have I brought that to God?
3. Am I open to God changing my mind about things as I pray over them?
4. Where will my discipleship to God take me this week?

Shalom!