2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Isaiah 62: 1-5
2. Psalms 96: 1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10
3. 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11
4. John 2: 1-11

• Rejoicing over you
• Think back to some point in time when your parents were really proud of you.  Maybe so much so that they included you in the family Christmas letter, or told other relatives about what you had done, or pointed out that athletic trophy that you had won to anyone who would listen to them.
• What was it that made them so enthusiastic about that accomplishment?
• Do you think that your achievement made them love you any more?
• What things that we do will make God rejoice over us?
• Do you think that He loves us any more for doing those things?
• They why bother?

• God's kingdom
• God rules over all of the earth, every ruler on earth only exercises authority that God has given them.
• If that's so, how do you explain truly crummy government officials, countries whose entire government is rife with corruption, politicians who are corrupt?
• What is our obligation as God's citizens?
• How do we tell if/when civil disobedience is called for?

• Congratulations, you're gifted
• A promising high school student takes a battery of tests, and if they are lucky, those tests validate that the student in question is gifted.
• Do you ever wish that you could take some sort of standardized test to find out what your spiritual gifts are (assuming that there is even a name for what you have)?
• If you did know what those gifts are, how would that change things for you?

• Yes, it's a miracle, but there's some assembly required
• I Joshua 3: 1-17 the Israelites crossed the Jordan river even though it was in flood at the time.  To do so, they had to follow the Ark of the Covenant.  The waters did not part until the sandals of the priests carrying the Ark touched the waters' edge.
• What are some miracles in your life that occurred because you were willing to do some part in the process?
• What do you think would have happened if you had not picked up and done your part?
• Why do you think that God asks us to participate in miracles so often?

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Do I really believe that God is at all pleased with me?
2. How have I helped God to bring Hist kingdom to earth.
3. Am I giving freely of the gifts that God has given me?
4. How can I be more willing to help God make miracles in the lives around me?

Shalom!