29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. Isaiah 53:10-11
   
2. Psalms 33: 4-5 18-19, 20, 22
   
3. Hebrews 4: 14-16
   
4. Mark 10: 35-45
   

• Following Jesus in His suffering
  
• Jesus seems to have done a pretty thorough job of suffering in this life.  It would seem that's not enough though.  There's still plenty of suffering going on in this old world of ours.
• Does our suffering have meaning?
• How does our suffering relate to the suffering of Jesus?
• If Jesus can help us through our suffering, how can we help others like Jesus?
  

• The kindness of God
  
• God is good all the time is a call and response that Fr. Joseph likes to use to get the gathered assembly livened up and interacting with him when he's preaching.  But sometime that goodness of God seems hard to come by.
• Why do you think that God is good to us, His people?
• Have you been good to God?
• How do you know that you've been good to God?
• Has he ever thanked you?
  

• Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner
  
• The Jesus prayer is meant as a gateway to meditation, a mantra if you will.  When I'm most troubled, I dwell in this prayer to get better perspective on who I am (someone in need of mercy) and who Jesus is (the font of all mercy) and things start to fall into proper perspective for me, and my vision begins to clear.
• When is a particular time when you were conscious of God's mercy in your life?
• Were you seeking mercy by name, or were you seeking something else from God?
• Do you feel as though you deserved, were entitled to that mercy?
• Why do you think that Jesus showed that mercy to you?
  

• The cup of Jesus
  
• Jesus calls us to follow Him.  He never tells us what that will mean in our case.  Were we to ask what following Him means, He would say "come and see."
• Do you think that every decision that you make needs to be a discernment?
• How do you find God's will in your life?
• Has that always worked for you?
• How can you tell?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• Where is God calling me to greater trust?
• Where might God be calling me to experience His kindness in new ways?
  
• Where do I need mercy today?
  
• Where might God be calling me to give myself with greater freedom?

Thank You for Your Servants

Thank you Jesus for my Confirmation kids

Who taught me how to live in the moment -

Every moment.

 

Thank you for my students

Who taught me to care for the whole person
In order to make each person whole.

Thank you for my RCIA instructors

Who taught me how life-giving Liturgy can be -

Even the ones that don't go according to plan.

Thank you for every voice that greets me

They remind me that you speak through all of us

Even when I struggle to understand.

 

Thank you for the quiet of the evening

At the end of the day.

Reminding me that every day is precious and numbered.

 

Thank you most of all for the familiar touch of an outstretched hand
Reminding me that I am never truly alone -
And that I will find You as I share that same touch with others.

Shalom!