18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Exodus 16: 2-4, 12-15
   
2. Psalms 78: 3-4, 23-24, 25, 54
   
3. Ephesians 4: 17, 20-24
   
4. John 6: 24-35
   

• Distractions
  
• "Missing the forest for the trees" can happen to any of us.  The forest stands for anything that's bigger, perhaps more important, larger in scope and context than the distraction.  That's not to say that the distraction is bad, just that it's getting in the way of something even bigger.  God was trying to teach the Israelites that He was with them.  All they got out of it was breakfast.
  
• A parable is a story, often short, that teaches one or more lessons.  Often, a parable is successful because the story draws us in, captures our attention, and makes us wonder what the lesson of that story might be.  Think of events of your life as a parable from God.
• Try to pretend that someone is telling you one of your own stories from your life.  Pretend that you are hearing this story for the first time.  What strikes you about this story?  What surprises you?  What moves you?
• What did you learn from this story that you've just told yourself?
• Do you think this story will make a difference in how you will live your life going forward?
  

• What God has done
  
• Many years ago my friend Mike heard that the nuns in the local convent needed a handyman.  Being a generous soul, he gathered up his tools one Saturday and went over there to see what he could do.  He did this for several weeks until that old convent was in top running condition.  At which points, the grateful nuns offered a heartfelt prayer of thanks, to God.
• Think of something that you have done in response to the leading of the Lord.
• God wasn't swinging the hammer, placing the nails, or mudding the drywall in that project.  Yet God was involved.  How was God involved?
• How did you come to be involved?
• Did you try to get anyone else to join you in that project?
  

• Abundance
  
• Our God is a God of abundance.  There is nothing thrifty about the blessings that He showers upon us.
• When is a time that God gave you far more than you really needed at the time, and far more than you deserved?
• What does that tell you about God?
• What does that tell you about yourself?
• How could you use that story to encourage others?
  

• Beyond the bread to the life it brings
  
• The dialog between Jesus and the crowds sounds much like his encounter with the woman at the well (John 4: 1-45).  Except the crowds do not seem to have ever actually come to belief in Him.  Perhaps the request for a sign was just a diversionary tactic on their parts.
• Why do you believe what you believe about God?
• Why do you believe that God cares at all?
• Why do you believe that God exists at all?
• Has the source of that belief changed through the years?
• Do you think that the source of your belief will continue to change?
• Is that a good thing?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• Where is God calling me in the experiences that He has given me?
• How is God moving, bringing things together, breathing His spirit into your life today?
  
• Is there anywhere in my life that I'm failing to appreciate the true abundance of God?
  
• Where is my relationship with God going?

Shalom!