26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Numbers 11: 25-29
   
2. Psalms 19: 8, 10, 12-13, 14
   
3. James 5: 1-6
   
4. Mark 9: 38-43
   

• Being sensitive to the Spirit
  
• Years ago, when I was still teaching Confirmation, Mary Rutz and Chris McGinnis led a prayer service for the Confirmation students that were ready to be Confirmed.  Mary put down a sheet in the sanctuary, laid out some sand, and rocks, and made a worship space there that was the stage for an amazing experience.  I never would have thought to do that.
• If someone were to tell you that you are sacramental: an outward sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace." what would you say?
  
• If you think that notion is sacrilegious, why do you feel that way?
• If you feel that notion is appropriate, why do you feel that way?
• Can we have too many sacraments in our lives?
  

• Letting joy find me
  
• True joy depends upon just two things: who Jesus is to me and who I am to Jesus.  Once I get those two landmarks firmly in view, everything else falls into place.
• What do you think that Jesus wants more for you than anything else?
• How is He offering that to you today?
• How are you growing in acceptance of that gift?
• What is slowing you down in that acceptance?
  

• Giving it away
  
• The world we live in is full of competition.  We constantly feel the urge to prove ourselves worthy of recognition, attention, care.  We measure ourselves by what we're able to acquire, be it a lovely house, great job, fame, or fortune.
• What truly makes you happy?
• Is that which makes you happy about something that you give away, or something that you received?
• How are you caring for what makes you happy?  How are you cultivating that?
• How do you express thanks to God for that blessing?
  

• Angels in our midst
  
• Maybe the challenge before is not to crowd yet more good deeds into our lives, but that we do that good more deliberately.
• Think of the last time that you offered a kindness to someone.
• Why did you do that?
• What do you think would happen if the next time you expressed kindness, support, affirmation to another person, you said in your heart: "The spark of the Divine in me recognizes, celebrates, and salutes the spark of the Divine in you.  Accept this small token of the joy I find because you are here."
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• Where is God calling me to greater trust?
• Where is the Joy of the Lord knocking at my door and I'm not hearing?
  
• What am I doing to be more generous?
  
• Where is God calling me to live my destiny more deeply?

Morning Prayer

As the sun paints the sky to celebrate a new day

A day like no other before or hence

A day full of opportunity -

I visualize all those that I will touch today.

Those encounters both planned and unplanned.

With folks that I rejoice in, and those that I don't.

I ask you Jesus to give me your eyes to see with -

To know that you walk in and among us all

As you walk within those that you bring to me today.

Help me to see your face Lord -

In those eyes.

Help me feel Your touch Lord in their hands.

 

Give me the grace to glory in your Presence.

No matter how it comes to me.

Grant me the grace to be Your presence to them.

 

Make my life a prayer to you.

That my voice, eyes, touch 

Be a sacrament of Your love to those around me.

 

That together, we might inspire each other

To truly live out our destiny in you.

To bring our flesh to your ongoing incarnation with, in, and through us.

Shalom!