11th Sunday in Ordinary TIme

Our readings for the 11th Sunday of Ordinary are:

1. Ezekiel 17: 22-24
2. Psalms 92: 2-3, 13-14, 15-16
3. 2 Corinthians 5: 6-10
4. Mark 4: 26-34

• New beginnings
• This prophecy in Ezekiel came to the people of Israel in exile in Babylonia.  In this prophecy, God promises that He will always be faithful to His people, that He is the one constant in their history.
• What are some of the constants in your life, things that never really change, that you can count on?
• What do those constants tell you about our God?
• What do they tell you about yourself?

• What are you thankful for?
• Genuine thankfulness is actually harder than it looks.  The self-serving Pharisee who thanks God that he is not like other people, or even that tax collector over there, is an easy trap to fall into.
• What are you thankful for today?
• Is that any different from what you were thankful for yesterday?
• What would you like to be thankful for tomorrow?

• Spiritual beings having a physical experience
• We speak of the dead as "gone home to Jesus" which is a good reminder that we are not home just now, we are on a pilgrimage whose beginning and end are shrouded in mystery, and wonder.
• Picture yourself on your deathbed.  Family and loved ones are gathered around to see you off.  Oddly, everyone there, yourself included, are at peace.  In that gathering is a precocious child who asks you to recall your favorite memory.
• What would that favorite memory be?
• What would it take for your favorite memory from your life to happen to you today?
• What's stopping you?

• Stay in your lane
• We have all heard that phrase.  Usually it serves as a warning to pay attention to our particular job, and leave the rest to others.
• If God is ultimately responsible for the success of our ministries, just what contribution do you make?
• How successful are you at leaving God's responsibilities up to God?
• Are you any better at that now than you were 10 years ago?

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What is God calling on me to count on Him for today?
2. Where is God in my life that I might not be noticing?
3. Where is God calling me to be bold?
4. Where am I trying to take over for God? 

Shalom!