12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 12th Sunday of Ordinary are:

1. Job 31: 1, 8-11
2. Psalms 107: 23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31
3. 2 Corinthians 5: 14-17
4. Mark 4: 35-41

• Creation emerging
• One theme of Ignatian spirituality is that creation is not over yet.  God continues expressing, revealing, celebrating His creative self in us and all of creation in an ongoing basis, and that God invites us into that process.
• Looking back over your life to date, can you name any places/times/events when you can say that God was creating in and through you?
• How did that feel at the time?
• How does it feel now?
• How do you think that you can help God help you to be more creative?

• Houston, we have a problem
• Losing control is never easy, no matter what your personality type might be.  But sometimes that's the key to moving forward, becoming a better version of yourself.
• What were some of the worst fears that you've had over the years?
• Did you feel that God was going to be by your side through those times?
• Was He?
• What difference did that make?

• Paradigm shift
• Falling in love can be more than mildly disorienting.  Suddenly the very air you breath is alive with perfume, light permeates the fabric of your existence, you suddenly see the good in that cranky neighbor that you have disliked for years, and you have a whole new reason to get out of bed in the morning.
• Maybe "coming to Jesus" is not quite so dramatic.  Maybe the shift from merely surviving to glorying in the eternal Now of serving God takes a little more time.  But the implications are no less dramatic.
• What is the single biggest change that God has made in your life?
• How does that work itself out in your life today?

• At least show that you care
• There is no way to tell for sure, but I have this theory that Jesus was just faking being asleep in the stern of the boat.  He was waiting to see how long it would take before His disciples would panic.
• Do you ever wonder if God cares?
• Do you think that He has a funny way of showing His love for us?
• Do you ever bring that up in prayer?
• What does He have to say for Himself?

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Where is God calling me to create today?
2. Where can I be less controlling and still be fully alive to the possibilities?
3. Where is God calling me beyond the confines of my comfort zone?
4. Where do I doubt God's care for me?

Best Possible Outcome

Do you not yet have faith?

Faith for what is what I ask.

Those disciples on the lake with Jesus were no strangers to water.

If they were afraid, I'm pretty sure that I would be too.

Were they supposed to have faith that Jesus would somehow come to in time to save them,

And they would all make it to shore in one piece?

Or maybe He expected them to still the waters on their own,

And leave Him to a well-deserved, but doubtless soggy nap.

Or maybe they were to have faith that another boat, hopefully larger,

Would come to their aid and rescue them from the storm.

Or maybe their faith was supposed to be that God would care for them somehow

And totally leave the details up to Him.

Or even, sorry to tell you this fellas, but today is it for you.

Your tour of duty as a disciple is over.  Good job.

Whatever Jesus meant by His question, my answer is going to be

"I'm working on it.  Give me some time."

Shalom!