23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Isaiah 35: 4-7a
2. Psalms 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10
3. James 2: 1-5
4. Mark 7: 31-37

• Reckless abundance
• God never seems to be stingy with his grace, yet we always want to dole everything out as though it could dry up at any moment.
• What do you give to God?  That could be time spent in service, time spent in prayer, investing your talents into pro bono work, or investing your money into charitable causes, or ...
• Why do you give all of that away in the first place?
• How do you know how much to give, and how much to retain to support you & your family?
• Does that giving bring you joy?

• Strangers in our midst
• The holy family were refugees in Egypt shortly after Jesus' birth, fleeing their homeland to escape the wrath of Herod.  These days, it seems as though half of the world's population is on the move, trying to escape oppression, only to find neighboring countries unwilling/unable to welcome them in because of their shear numbers.
• If God protects the stranger, those with no one to defend them, how does He actually do that?
• Who is the stranger among us?
• Does God care whether they are deserving of help?
• Does God care whether they are properly appreciative?
• What does that tell you about God?

• Losers among us
• Who could argue with success?  No one likes to be known as a failure.  And we all particularly want to succeed when we give of ourselves to others as a celebration of our faith.  Yet Sr. Theresa once said "God does not require success of us, only faithfulness."
• Think of a ministry that you are giving yourself to.
• What makes for success in that ministry?
• If you were to fail in that ministry over and over again, no matter what you tried, what would you conclude?
• Why?

• Up close and personal
• Jesus never seems to be in a hurry when healing.  At the same time, the Gospel accounts seem less a recipe for successful healing, and more a lesson in caring about, and for the one seeking healing.
• Who are the ones in your life needing healing?  Maybe they are bruised and bloodied by abuse that they have suffered, maybe they have been oppressed/silenced/marginalized by others in power, ...
• How do you think that Jesus would show them that He cares, that He is always with them, that He loves them even though they have been through these calamities.
• Can you see yourself being that Presence for them? 

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. How can I share the abundance of God better?
2. Who are the refugees that God wishes me to reach out to?
3. Where is God asking me to give up seeking success and seek to love more deeply instead?
4. Where is God calling me to companion the wounded?

Shalom!