25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Wisdom 2: 12, 17-20
   
2. Psalms 54: 3-4, 5, 6, 8
   
3. James 3: 16-4: 3
   
4. Mark 9: 30-37
   

• Victory through defeat
  
• God defends us, nurtures us, cares for us, all in ways that we often fail to see during the heat of the moment.  The fact that we are treasured may come as a surprise to those around us.
• What is your image of God?
• What is on His face/in His eyes when He looks at you?
• What do you think God protects us from?  Would it be poverty, ill health, a bad hair day, death, ...?
• How does that protection make you feel?
• Do you feel as though you are precious in His eyes?
  

• Quid pro quo
  
• We know that virtue is its own reward, that serving God and neighbor brings blessings all out of proportion to the work that we put in.  And yet, it's easy to fall into the trap of believing that we are somehow entitled to a break at least once in a while in recognition of our own faithfulness.
• If you're honest with yourself, what do you feel would be a legitimate expectation that you might put on God as recognition for all that you've done for Him thorough the years?
• Have you ever prayed about that?
• What was God's answer?
  

• Whatever
  
• I agree with Matthew Kelly that our deepest desires and longings come from God Himself, and that listening to those longings is part of discernment and hence part of prayer itself.
• If you are honest with yourself, what are one or two of your deepest longings?
• If you have done nothing to achieve those, why not?
• What are you afraid of?
• Do you ever pray about those?
  

• Earning points
  
• We all look for affirmation - that gentle confirmation that we have made the right decisions, put our energies into the right thing, become the right sort of person.  And perhaps most of all, done all of that at about the right pace.  Not rushing things unnecessarily, yet always moving forward in our love affair with God.
• What do you think that you are great at?
• Does that make you any greater than anyone else?
• Does that feature about you make you better than most people?
• Why or why not?
• Do you think that Jesus likes that about you?
• With all of that greatness going on, can you still be humble?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• Where is God calling me to greater trust?
• Do I feel entitled??
  
• What am I doing to achieve God's deepest desires for me?
  
• Where is God calling me to live my destiny more deeply?

Making Mom Proud

My mother Rachel never did understand this life of a wandering disciple.
"Simon," she says "where are you going to meet a nice girl on the road?

You'll bring your old mother to her grave with worry hanging around this preacher.
What's wrong with setting into the family weaving business with your brother Sidney?
At least that way you will know where your next meal comes from

And where you're going to sleep that night."

At one time I thought that Jesus would be crowned, 

My brother disciples and I would be ushered into greatness,

We would finally show all of them that this Jesus was the real thing,

And that all of us had made a sound choice in following Him,

No matter how unlikely that was,

Or how foolish we have sometimes felt.

Then, I slowly learned that Jesus was not destined for a crown.

At least not on this side of eternity.

Worse, the shame that He sees in his future will surely taint us.

Poisoning our relationships with family, friends, synagogues,

Everyone who ever cared for, or about us, who won't understand

The sad shameful end that Jesus tells use is in store for Him.

Fear nearly drove wild.

I had no where else to go.

Nowhere to turn.

I could not imagine turning my back on these my brothers,

On Jesus who somehow knows me better than I know myself.

On Jesus who always brings out the best in me in spite of my fear.

Fear has gradually given way to resignation.

And now resignation has made room for hope.

Not hope that Jesus will somehow dodge this shameful destiny.

Rather, hope that I will find joy in that shame.

Hope that I will have the strength to persevere.

Hope that I will never forget who Jesus has showed me that I am.

Shalom!