2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

1. 1 Samuel 3: 3b-10, 19
2. Psalms 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
3. 1 Corinthians 6: 13c-15a, 17-20
4. John 1: 35-42

• Your servant is listening ...
• If God had something really important to say to you, how do you think He would convey that to you?
• How likely would you be to actually realize that communication was from God?
• How likely would you be to follow that direction, even if it was surprising?
• How can you prepare to improve your odds?

• Go, you are sent
• Growing up, I always felt as though missionaries were commendable, but almost a different breed of person.  To dedicate your entire life to spreading the Gospel to folks who have different language, customs, culture, hair styles than anything you've ever seen before takes a lot of courage.
• Do you fill that there is a mission to your life?
• What would that be?
• Do you think that your mission is just like everyone else's mission?
• Why do you think there are so many of us then?

• Tabernacle
• If you are a temple of the Lord, a resting place for His presence, how does that affect the way that you look at yourself?
• Do you think that God's presence can be found in everyone else, as well?
• Is it worthwhile to get in touch with the Presence of God within you?
• How do you make that Presence within you stronger?

• Sorry, that's not in my job description
• Back when I worked in aerospace, we would sometimes say "that's not in my job description" as a response to some request that we felt was outside of our responsibilities.
• When you became a Christian, what did you think were your responsibilities as a child of God?
• Has that set of "job duties" changed at all over time?
• Have those changes been a good thing, or a bad thing?

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Where is God calling me to listen more intently lately?
2. Where is God sending me today?
3. How can I better reflect the Presence of God within?
4. Am I truly faithful to God's call in my life?

Marching orders

I have a job, a purpose, an objective for you.

What's an ark?

What?

God, you know, that old Bill Cosby routine when God calls Noah to build the ark.

Nothing that big in your case.  That person across the way there, by themselves, go talk to them.

But I don't know what to say, who they are, nowhere to start.

Perfect.  That way, you are not going to load them up with your own agenda.  Trust me.

But what if I just make things worse?  They look really sad.

Then it will be on me.  Now get going before they drive home from Mass.

What will I say to them?

Hi, I've noticed you over here the past few weeks.  How are you?

That's it?  What good will that do?

To them, it will sound like "I've noticed you, you are not alone, do not despair."  Now get going.

Why me?

I like to surprise people.  In this case, I'm surprising both of you.  Be off with you.

Shalom!