2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

1. Isaiah 49: 3, 5-6
2. Psalms 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
3. 1 Corinthians 1: 1-3
4. John 1: 29-34

• Incarnation day by day
• The Harry Potter story arc appeals to all of us on a number of levels.  Two of them are identity and destiny.  Harry didn't know growing up that he was at all different from his aunt and uncle (except maybe in temperament) and unaware of any calling in his life.  As he gradually stepped into his identity, his destiny as a leader also emerged.
• Who would you say that you are if you were to tell someone about you in 30 seconds.
• Has that vision of your identity changed since you were young?
• What happened?
• Was that change in vision good, bad, or just "growing up"?
• How did you come to find that new vision for your life?
• Where is that vision going in the future?

• Stepping into your destiny
• Think of some people that you admire greatly.  How did they discern what God was calling them to in life?  Do you think that they stepped into that calling all at once, or was it a process?
• What steps have you taken in your life to fulfill the destiny that God set out for you?
• How is that going?  What advice would you give some young person who comes to you looking to find out what their true calling in life is?

• Unity within the body
• We used to flock T-shirts and sweatshirts for the confirmation candidates for their retreat.  We gave them out to them on Sunday morning to help build a sense of community on the retreat.
• What contributes to a sense of community for you?  Is it common customs, shared memories, a common tie clasp or some other accessory, ...  How exactly do those things work?
• At bottom, what do we, as Christians, have in common?  What makes us brothers and sisters?
• How does that influence how we relate to each other, pray for each other, work with each other?
• How can we remind each other of what binds us together?

• Spirit flying low
• Have you ever opened your mouth to say something, maybe you've prepared for this moment for weeks on end, and suddenly, something clicks for you, you see what you were about to say in a whole new light, and you hear yourself saying something that you never planned.
• At my age, that could just be a stroke.  But in your case, what do you think prompted that sudden change of paradigm?
• If you had known that was going to happen, would you have worked so hard to prepare?
• Do you think that such interventions might be the work of the Holy Spirit?
• How can we make ourselves more open to such visitations?

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. How am I exploring who I am in God today?
2. Am I living the life of fulfillment that God has for me?
3. What am I doing to strengthen true unity among God's people?
4. How am I opening myself up to the influence of the Spirit?

Shalom!