7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 7th Sunday of Ordinary Time are:

1. 1 Samuel 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23
2. Psalms 103: 1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13
3. 1 Corinthians 15: 45-49
4. Luke 6: 27-38

• Trust is a path where there is none
• Trust in God is something that we all want.  We know that, with that trust comes hope, and with hope comes peace, and peace leads to a joy that is unstoppable, no matter how dire circumstances might get.
• Have you ever found it hard to trust God?
• What did you trust Him for?  Was God supposed to make something bad go away, restore something to you that you had lost, bring healing of some sort, prosper the work of your hands in some way, bring you closer to himself?
• Did God come through for you?
• What did that tell you about God?
• What did that tell you about you?
  

• A father's compassion
• A father's compassion can be a powerful thing in our lives.  Looking into those eyes that know you so well, that cherish you for all that you are this very moment, that longs to hear from you where your road has taken you, with all its joys and disappointments.
• What makes you think that God has compassion for you?
• How does that compassion make you feel about God?
• How does that compassion make you feel about yourself?
• Do you ever wonder if God would like compassion from you?
  

• The image of God
• What do you think it means that we were formed in the image and likeness of God?
• How do you know if you are fulfilling that destiny, being the image and likeness of God?
• Can you think of a time/event when you were able to fulfill that destiny?
• Was that hard for you?
• What did that experience teach you?
  

• The lure of judgement
• Judging others is easy.  And sadly, it only gets easier with age.  After all, if someone else is noticeably different from you, they must either be ignorant or mistaken.  Otherwise, they'd be just like you in their perspectives, actions, attitudes.  Judging others cuts us off from them, makes it impossible for them to really hurt us.  Especially when that other is God Himself.
• Has God ever done something unexplainable in your life?
• How did you come to terms with that experience?
• Did that change how you looked at God?
• Did that change how you regarded yourself?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• Where might God be calling me step even where there is no way forward?
• Where might God be trying to reveal His father's heart to me?
  
• What of God might others see in me?
  
• Where might I be judging others?
  

Shalom!