Weekly Readings Reflections: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Last week, we read of Solomon's prayer to God for wisdom. In deciding what to ask God for, Solomon first had to assess what God had called him to in life, and what it would take to step into that calling fully.
What is it that God has called you into in life lately?
What traits, abilities, resources would make it possible for you to succeed in that calling?
Do you think that God wants those things for you?
How are you praying for them?

Happiness relies to a great extent in discerning the difference between needs and wants, and putting each into its proper perspective.
What are your deepest needs? Don't stop with the first thing that comes to mind, try to find the need behind that need. For instance, during COVID-19 I find that I need human contact. I think that I need that contact to remind me that there's more to life than just my thoughts, issues, and concerns, that I'm part of something much bigger. The wider my human contact, the more open I am to new possibilities, new connections, and ultimately to God Himself.
Where did those needs come from?
Have they changed through the years?
Where do your wants come from?
Have those changed through the years?

Folks in real need can be hard to relate to. It's easy for them and the rest of us to let that need in their life define them. Once that happens, they become more and more distant from the rest of us who do not share that need.
Think back to some point in your life that was a real challenge for you. Perhaps a health crisis, loss of a loved one, loss of a job, ... Did that passage in your life draw you closer to anyone else?
How did that closeness happen?
Did that challenge in your life draw you closer to God?
Why or why not?

Catholic tradition has it that one of Jesus' followers, Veronica, stepped forward to wipe Jesus' face as He was making his way to the Cross. I find that particular station of the cross compelling because it required a great deal of courage and faith on her part. Jesus was a condemned man, the object of ridicule and shame. To do anything but jeer and mock Him in that crowd was to risk falling victim to the same shame that He was bearing. Veronica probably struggled, trying to think of something that she could do to help, and feeling so helpless. Yet she did what she could despite all of that, turning her love and concern for Jesus into action.
What are some needs in your community that you are aware of?
What are some things that you could do to support, sustain, comfort folks with those needs?
How could you be the bread of life in those situations?

I can't figure Him out

I could tell that the news of His cousin John's death hurt Him.

Memories of growing up together, rough housing through the village,

Trips to Jerusalem together, family gatherings through the years,

All of that gone now, a horrible execution for no good reason.

Jesus needed time alone, to process, to grieve, maybe strategize

And see what the future might bring for him, with John now gone.

We took Him to an isolated place, far from any village,

To give Him time and space to be by Himself, without the crowds.

But they got there ahead of us by some means, shattering our plans.

Vast numbers of them from every corner of Palestine,

All so needy, all looking for Jesus, frightening in their intensity.

If I had been Jesus, I would have gotten back in the boat and taken off.

But Jesus waded into that sea of humanity, touched their lives,

Spoke lovingly to them of His Father and theirs, healed their hurts,

Blessed them with hope, all the while bearing his own pain inside.

As if He found comfort of some sort in serving those who came to Him.

We could barely keep up, and we wondered when the tide of humanity,

Would ever ebb, give Jesus a rest, grant Him some peace at last.

Finally, a few of us decided to take matters into our own Hands.

Remind Him the hour, the place, even His own needs, for His own good.

When He told us to feed them, my first thought was that they might riot.

If there was not food enough to fill all of them, there would be anger.

But He merely took what we had to offer, no matter how poor and small,

And blessed it, and gave it to us to distribute, scared as we were.

I never know when Jesus is going to call on me to journey beyond my limits

Serve longer, harder, more than I know how to muster the energy.

I'm never sure when enough is enough, and it's time to quit giving.

But I know that at least sometimes, there's more to give than I realize.

Shalom!

Weekly Readings Reflections