19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. 1 Kings 19: 4-8
2. Psalms 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
3. Ephesians 4: 30-5:2
4. John 6: 41-51

• Food for the journey
• In the verses ahead of the first reading, Elijah had very publicly debunked the priests of Baal and discredited the rulers of Israel in the process.  Oddly, no one thanked Elijah for showing them the truth, and so he fled for his life.
• Have you ever felt that God was asking too much of you?
• Did you wonder at the time whether it was really God's leading that you were following in the first place?
• What was your prayer like during that time?
• How did God get you through that challenging time?

• The joy of the Lord
• Think of someone you admire for their joyful attitude.  Maybe that is a close friend, a relative, or even someone you have heard about like Mother Theresa.
• Where do you think that joyful attitude came from?  Was it because everything that they tried turned out really well, or because God showered material blessings on them, or maybe because they became wildly famous because of their devotion to God?
• What do you think that this person sought, what were/are their priorities?
• How might you take an example from them?

• Compassion
• When have you needed some compassion?  Maybe you were suffering a health issue, maybe it was a relationship that was souring, maybe trouble in your career.
• Where did you turn?  Who/what did you go to for comfort?
• How well did they understand what you were going through?
• How did that make you feel?
• How/when have you been the compassion of Jesus for someone else?

• Needs and wants
• Eternal life, by its nature, sounds like something at a healthy distance to most of us.  And if we were honest, we would probably admit that we prefer to keep eternal life at a distance, at least for the immediate future.
• Do you think that eternal life has anything to do with the life that you are leading now?
• Is the eternal life that God offers us exactly the same for all of us?
• When does eternity start?
• Is it possible to start enjoying the benefits of eternal life now? 

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. Who do I know who needs provision for the journey that they are on?  Where is God calling me to be their sustenance?
2. What stands between me and deep and abiding joy?
3. What keeps me from being more compassionate to my family, fellow parishioners, colleagues, ...?
4. What about eternal life do I need right now?

Shalom!