12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Jeremiah 20: 10-13
2. Psalms 69: 8-10, 14, 17, 33-35
3. Romans 5: 12-15
4. Matthew 10: 26-33

• The cost of discipleship
• The life of a prophet is seldom easy, they often have harsh truths that they need to convey.  Increasingly, our mere existence, our way of life, our priorities as Christians will cause others discomfort, confusion, eventually hatred.
• Think of a time when you felt led to speak up about something that no one seemed to want to talk about, something that had to be talked about.
• What gave you the courage to be that voice?
• How did it turn out?  Were you able to bring about change for the better?
• Would it have been better had you never said anything?
• Why?

• Humility and ambition
• St. Ignatius identifies three levels of humility that can be summarized: obedience, indifference, identification.  Obedience to God's will in my life over my own wants and desires.  Indifference regarding the outcomes of my actions so long as they lead me closer to Christ.  Becoming so close to Christ in my life that I partake of His shame and rejection, and rejoice in it.
• God hears hears the cries of the poor.  All of us can be poor in the sense that we can be humble, regardless of how God has blessed us in our lives.
• Where do you find yourself on the humility journey as Ignatius describes it?
• Is that good enough?
• How do you think greater humility would benefit you and those around you.

• The sin of the world
• I have a hard time deciding whether to repent of my sin, or my sins.  The first suggests a holistic look at my life in general, and ask whether I bring life and healing to those around me.  The second perspective is more immanent, seeking to find individual thoughts, words, and deeds of mine that need to be forgiven, atoned for, healed.
• How do you go about finding healing from your sin?
• How do you become aware of your sin?
• Is that awareness getting any better with age?
• Why?

• It will all work out in the end
• Calamity is isolating.  Everyone else has all of the normal concerns and demands on them, they don't understand what it's like to suffer.  Perhaps our greatest fear is being alone when we most need company.  Jesus assures His disciples that He is the ultimate companion, that everyone else in our life who brings us compassion, comfort, love, is an expression of Him.
• Think of someone who has "been there" for you for a long long time.  How did that relationship develop?
• We don't have to earn Jesus' friendship, but we do need to nurture that relationship.  How do you nurture your relationship with Jesus?
• If Jesus never leaves us, what does that say about the suffering that we all share?

• Preparation for Reconciliation

1. How can I grow in humility?
2. What is it in my life that consumes me?
3. How can I bring more life into the world?
4. How am I drawing closer to Jesus today?

Hero

"My hero" breathlessly exclaims the damsel as she rushes into his arms.

Scenes like that are in short supply these days,

The damsels are quite capable of saving themselves, thank you very much.

The knights all seem to have feet of clay and skeletons in their closets.

And yet, and yet the need for men and women of bravery, and nobility continues

Now more than ever.

To the point that we can no longer afford to outsource heroism

To an elite round table of knights.

The heroes have to be all of us.

The brave must be there gazing back at each of us in the mirror.

And bravery finds its true mettle

In far-seeing humility.

Lord grant me your ears that I might hear the cries of your poor

Give me your eyes that I might see how I can make a difference

Give me your voice to summon the best from myself and others

Give me your hands to touch and heal the afflicted.

Let me be your hero.

Shalom!