28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. 2nd Kings 5: 14-17
   
2. Psalms 98: 1, 2-3, 3-4
   
3. 2nd Timothy 2: 8-13
   
4. Luke 17: 11-19

• Open to blessings
  
• God ministers to us in ways that sometimes surprise us, sometimes even offend us.
• Has there ever been a time in your life when God came to you in some unexpected way?
• How did you respond at first?
• What changed your attitude?
• How might you be more open (less hard hearted) the next time?
  

• Salvation from what?
  
• In our culture, we hear the word "salvation" our minds immediately go to salvation from eternal torment, eternal separation from God, maybe our mind goes to eternal separation from our family and other loved ones, but there are plenty of other things to be saved from.
• What has God saved you from lately?  Maybe its salvation from self-pity in the face of a loss, or salvation from making a bad decision, or salvation from being hurtful towards someone that you deeply love.
• How did that salvation come to you?
• How did you express your gratitude?
  

• The "little way" of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
  
• We read of martyrs who found holiness in life and died for that.  But before they gave their all in death, they had doubtless given their all many times in many places all their life long.
• What are some examples of other people that you know who have given of themselves generously over and over again?
• What are they like personally?
• Do they inspire you?
• To what?
  

• Revelation
  
• Life today is in too much of a rush.  We are never able to savor, revisit, ponder happenings in our life right after we go through them.  Maybe, if we are lucky, near the end of life, if our minds hold together long enough, we can look back, and wonder.
• What are you grateful for today?
• Why are you grateful?
• Has that gratitude changed your life in any way?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Where is God blessing me right now?
   
2. What would God like to save me from today?
3. What might God be calling me to give up that I might receive more from Him?
   
4. Where has God been good to me and I am only now realizing it? 

Too Busy for Breezes

It's Sunday afternoon, the day is sunny and warm.
A light breeze sighs through the branches outside
And I hear it calling me to come, even just for a moment
And enjoy the breeze, hear its chant, join in prayer.

But I'm too busy here with other things, important things.
The breeze will have to wait until I feel as though I deserve it
When I have accomplished enough today that I feel worthy
Of wasting some time doing nothing but enjoying a light air.

After all, maybe it's just a quirk of weather, with no meaning.
Or maybe it's angels murmuring, one to another
Reminding each other of the goodness of God
In the breath of each moment, each hour, each day.

Either way, it's going to have to wait. 

 Shalom!