Weekly Readings Reflections: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

When someone is mourning a loss, we want to comfort them. Find some shred of goodness to help lift their spirits, give them a reason to persevere. Many times, such efforts backfire, and just leave the bereaved feeling more isolated, more despondent, and feeling meaningless.
Have you ever endured a loss in your life that left you wondering "what's it all for"?
How did you pray at that time?
What was God's answer to you? God speaks to us in lots of ways, not all of them are in words.
How did that answer help you through that "valley of shadow" in your life?

Back when I fellowshiped with my Protestant brethren, we would often share testimonies, stories of how God had met us in a time of need, and how that deepened our appreciation of God and His ongoing building of the Kingdom. You occasionally will find small faith-sharing circles among Catholics, but it's not nearly as common a practice.
If a close friend of yours came up to you and told you that they really wanted to share a story of how God was faithful to them, what might be your first thought?
If you yourself were currently really challenged by and in your life, would you still be able to share in that fellow believer's joy?
Do you ever share God stories with others in your life?
Would it hurt to make a regular practice of that?
How might it change you?

All of us are "blessed" with difficult people. The neighbor down the street who hosts loud parties, the coworker who tries to snare you in gossip every time that you pass their desk, the family member who just will not stop talking about some slight that they received from another family member. Loving such people would be so much easier if they just saw things with the clarity and vision that you have.
How do you respond to those difficult people? Do you try to avoid them, politely tell them why they are bugging you and ask them to please change, do you pray for them (and praying that your neighbor's sound system breaks down does not count)?
If someone told you that those difficult people were meant to be a blessing, what would your response be? Would it be outrage, disbelief, anger, prayer?
Do you ever wonder if those difficult people find you difficult?

Jesus' listeners suffered from two challenges: Jesus was too ordinary, and their own history with Good was too extraordinary. They missed the fact that the manna in the desert was a sign that would eventually point to Jesus. They missed the fact that all of life is here to bring us closer to God.
Think of a time when God spoke to you through someone, some event, some experience that suddenly had profound meaning for you.
Would you term that a revelation?
What happened to let you get past the ordinariness of God's chosen messenger?
Why do you think that God revealed Himself to you in that way?

Shalom!

Weekly Readings Reflections