Weekly Readings Reflections: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

All of us want an immersive cultural, and especially religious experience: to be situated in a context that supports our values, affirms our priorities, and tells us that we are in good company. But particularly this generation comes from so many places, cultures, backgrounds, such contextual harmony is all but impossible.
What does someone else have to believe before you would feel comfortable worshiping God together with them?
What does that same someone have to believe before you would feel comfortable working with them on some common goal? That might be a Habitat for Humanity build, community cleanup, serving the homeless, ...
What does that same someone have to believe before you would feel comfortable having dinner with them?
And what would that same someone have to believe before you would feel comfortable with them proposing to your son or daughter?
Why the difference?

All of us feel that we can count on Jesus. He's been faithful for years, maybe in some families you can even say generations. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to do what is right, in spite of your fears. Put those two notions together ...
Name three things that you are certain that Jesus would never allow to happen to you.
Why is that so hard?
If we cannot count on Jesus to protect us from specific calamities in life, what do His promises amount to?
How does that change your prayer?

I guess that I am getting old. Some of the music that has most shaped my life is getting rather old. One such piece is Rory Cooney's One Is. Here Cooney's lyric poetry extends the Trinity's invitation to all of us to be one with, in, and through the relatedness that is God.
When you ponder the word "reconciliation", does that have more of the feel of a noun, or a verb?
What part does God call us to in reconciliation?
Can God do His part without us doing ours?
Why is reconciliation so hard?
What can we do to learn to be reconcilers?

Jesus sometimes seems like some sort of superman in robe and sandals, oh, and a beard. He never seems to lose His patience (well, maybe with His disciples from time to time), He never whines or complains, yet His life seems chock full of needy people.
What goes on inside of you when your plans get disrupted by unexpected demands?
What is your first response? Do you react to the person making the demand, the demand itself, or something else?
Do you necessarily always have to "give in" to every demand, or is it OK to say "enough already, I need to recharge, rejuvenate, get better perspective?
Do you think Jesus ever had to say "no" to anyone?

Welcome

I have always hurried past the greeters at the door,

Barely acknowledging them as I dashed inside, looking for a good seat.

Never looking at their name badges, never saying hello,

Regarding them as a service that some folks needed, but certainly not me.

But today, I needed to wait there by the door for a friend,

To catch him on his way in to service.

I had no badge, no winning smile, but everyone else did.

Soon I was paying attention to all those coming by.

I remembered to thank the lector for her wonderful work.

I remembered to ask after a mutual friend I'd not seen in months.

I heard stories of how others were doing, where they had been,

And I realized that I was not welcoming them, they were welcoming me.

I never did find my friend, but Jesus certainly found me.

And reminded me that we are all connected, whether we know it or not.

And the best celebration of who we are happens between us

And that revelation can happen whenever we let it.

Shalom!

Weekly Readings Reflections