22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Jeremiah 20: 7-9
   
2. Psalms 63: 2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
   
3. Romans 12: 1-2
   
4. Matthew 16: 21-27
   

• Honesty in prayer
  
• Maybe we feel that God will be offended.  After all, these days it seems as though just about everyone is offended by something/someone.  Maybe we think that God, in all of His glory, is not interested in how we really feel.  But the great heroes of the Bible gave God a piece of their minds, and did so frequently.
• Have you ever been angry, frustrated with, or disappointed in God?
• Did you talk to Him about your feelings?
• How do you think that made God Feel?
• Did you think to ask Him?
  

• Longing for God
  
• What is it about God that attracts you?  Is it the sense of purpose that you find in His service, maybe the community that He has called you into, the sense of being part of something bigger than just yourself, or is it more personal?
• Think of three things that are essential to who God is that you want more of in your life.
• For each of those, what stands in your way, why do you feel you don't have enough of those right now?
• Imagine what it would be like for you to have those blessings in abundance.
• Pray that vision.
  

• Transformational theology
  
• I found this meditation on the wounds borne by the risen Christ.  It's a little lengthy, but very well done.
• Is there an experience or even a full chapter in your life that you would rather never happened at all?
• How has that part of your past affected you since then?
• Do you think that God wants to heal that, or transform it?
• How might God use that part of your past to make you a better person today?
• How can you help God in that soul work?
  

• The resilience of humility
  
• Take note that this Gospel immediately follows Peter giving voice to his recognition of just who Jesus is.  Seems rather ironic that poor Peter goes from head of the class to almost a suspension in just a few verses.  A more humble response on his part might have been something like "Lord, I'm terribly confused and astonished.  Help me in my confusion."
• What are some things in your life, your perspective, that have limited what you can accept from God in your life?
• Do you think that you would be better able to accept those things, be more free in your life now than you were then?
• Can you think of any way to cultivate resilience (call it flexibility, or even "rolling with the punches") in your life?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Where is God offering me a chance to speak up/speak out on His behalf?
2. Am I pursuing my God-given longings in life?
3. What blocks my trust in God?
   
4. Where is God calling to me to more freedom?

Shalom!