2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time

Our readings for 2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. 1 Samuel 3: 3b-10, 19
   
2. Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
3. 1 Corinthians 6: 13c-15a, 17-20
   
4. John 1: 35-42
   

• Effective words
  
• No one wants to "waste their breath".  Normally that happens either because your audience does not have the inclination or the means to properly appreciate your words, or your words are inconsequential.  But what if, by some miracle, you could be sure that neither of those was true, that no matter whom you talk to, they will be able to follow every nuance of your words, and you will never say anything inconsequential.
• When are some times that your words had no effect, or worse, had an effect that you did not intend?
• Why did that happen?
• What could you have done differently?
• Do you think that all of us should be effective in all of our words all of the time?
• What can we do to help make that happen?

• Obedience is hard
  
• Every time that we make a decision, we have an opportunity to be obedient to God.  At the very least, just the process of seeking out God's will in our lives makes us better children of God, more humble, more trusting, more attentive.
• How do you go about making tough decisions?
• How much time to you typically give that process?
• Once you've made a decision, do you ever second guess that decision?
• Are you getting better at making wise decisions?
• What would you like to improve on with respect to your decision making?
  

• Glorifying God in your body
• A professional athlete always asks themselves "is this {thing that I'm going to eat, this activity that I'm about to engage in, this book that I'm about to read ...} going to help me be a better athlete?  Each of us could have that sort of focus regarding our lives as God's children.
• If you were that focused with respect to your life as a child of God, would that be restrictive, or freeing?
• Do you think that you could live that way for a year?
• What changes do you think that living that way would make in you?
• What do you think that you would miss out on living that way?
  

• Spreading the word
  
• A year or two after I became a Catholic, my mother asked me why I did not try to convince her to become a Catholic.  After all, if I felt that the Catholic faith had more to offer than the tradition in which I had been raised, why wouldn't I be trying to share that with those that I cared about?
• How do you find yourself sharing your faith with others?
• If someone came up to you and said "I sense something deeply spiritual, even holy about you.  I want what you have."  What would you do?
• If that same person decided to dedicate their life to Jesus, what would you do to help support that decision of theirs?
• Are you sure that they would be warmly welcomed if they became a member of your faith community?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Where can I learn to be more prophetic in my speech and writing?
   
2. How might I become more sensitive to God's desires for me in my life?
3. Where might God be calling me to more focus in my life?
   
4. Where is God teaching me more trust today?

Reluctant missionary

Brother, how many have you saved today?

I hung my head, knowing that I had nothing to report.

Then he asked "what's holding you back?"

I gazed off into the distance to collect my thoughts.

And I asked "how do I know that they'll be happier?"

My companion looked at me in shock.  "What do you mean?"

Slowly I replied: "This path that we start them on is a hard one.

These new followers of Jesus are gradually going to become more and more sensitive.

Sensitive to the still small voice of the Spirit in their lives.

They will come to see more and more that we are all connected.

That none of us lives in isolation, that we all need each other.

And all of us are here to support and sustain each other.

That's a lot of responsibility for someone to take on.

Especially if they have bought the lie that they are responsible to no one but themselves,

That their only measure of success is how well they looked out for number one.

Then there's trust.  Trust that God has them in His hands.

Trust that this new life of service will all work out in the end.

Even if they end up leaving behind things that looked so important.

I wonder who among my family, friends, coworkers are really ready.

I wonder if I am really a good example of the life that Jesus is calling them to.

I wonder what sort of welcome they will receive when they join us.

I wonder if I am really worthy to bring another into our midst.

As if I'm so much further down the road than anyone else.

I wonder what will happen when I fail, and they see, and wonder.

Maybe I need to learn more trust.

Trust that God can transform my weaknesses into strengths, if I let Him.

Trust that God can provide the hospitality that these new disciples need.

Trust that God can use me if I'm willing.

Even if all that I have is the willingness to be willing.

Willing to help another hear God's gentle call.

 

Check back with me tomorrow.

I might just have the beginnings of a different response.

Maybe."

 

Shalom!