24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Sirach 27:30-28:7
   
2. Psalm 103: 1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12
   
3. Romans 14: 7-9
   
4. Matthew 18: 21-35
   

• Sneaking up on forgiveness
  
• It is never easy to forgive.  When another hurts us, we feel helpless.  Sometimes, a hurt is deep enough that we think of vengeance as a means to "right the wrong".  Forgiveness is not about making it as though that hurt had never happened.  Rather, forgiveness is transformative.
• When have you been deeply hurt, maybe even betrayed by someone, maybe even yourself?
• What did that do to your relationship with that person?
• What did that do to your relationship to God?
• Do you feel that you are free from that hurt?
• What do you think that God wants for you in this regard?
  

• Noticing the mercy
  
• Most of us lead good, maybe even exemplary lives.  If pressed, we might confess that we do not have much to confess most of the time.
• When was the last time that you looked back over the past 24 hours of your life to see where/when/how you either moved more towards God or away from Him?
• What did you learn from that?
• Would it be worth the time and effort to do that exercise on a regular basis?
  

• Freedom of indifference
  
• Ignatian indifference is not giving up, nor giving in.  Rather, it is an intentional recognition that there is only one universal good, one final clarion call to draw us forward, one ultimate fulfillment.  Everything else is means to that end, resources to be applied to that one work.  To the extent that we can embrace that glorious singularity of purpose, we know freedom.
• What are you ultimately living for?
• What do you hope to achieve before you die, your spiritual bucket list?
• How did that purpose, that goal shape your life today?
• How should it?
  

• True power
  
• Power is often defined in terms of being able to influence people's thoughts or actions.  But our God's power lies in transformative love that calls forth the very best in us.
• Who is someone that you had to forgive, how did they hurt you?
• How did you come to the realization that you needed to forgive them?
• Was that forgiveness an event or a process?
• How has that forgiveness healed you?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Where is God calling me to reckless forgiveness?
   
2. Where has God been merciful to me?
3. Do I have the courage to "let go and let God"?
   
4. Where is God calling me to move forward in forgiveness?
   

Shalom!