14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

1. Isaiah 44: 10-14c
2. Psalms 66: 1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20
3. Galatians 6: 14-18
4. Luke 10: 1-12, 17-20

• Looking for hope
• Do you see God at work around you?
• How does that make you feel?
• Do you think that God is diligently working some master plan?
• Do you think that you have an important role to play in that plan?
• Do you think that God will clue you in to just what that role might be?
• With all of that reason to hope, why don't you feel more hopeful?
• What does that say about God?
• What does that say about you? 

• Wondrous deeds
• A friend comes up to you and says "I hear that you're Christian.  Why?"
• What would you say to such a person?
• How far back in your life would you start that narrative?
• What characteristics of God would you think would come through in the telling of such a narrative?
• How might telling that story shape you today? 

• Discovering what's important
• In once heard an old Jesuit priest say "As I get older, it's harder and harder for me to get around, and I find greater and greater freedom to follow Jesus."
• Would you agree?
• Why do you think that happens to us, that gradual letting go of things/people/grudges/ ... that never really gave us any happiness to begin with?
• Why do you think it takes so long to find and hold to that freedom?
• Does it have to take this long? 

• I'm not Billy Graham
• When I was growing up, we Evangelicals looked up to Billy Graham.  He never let up, never rested on his laurels, was always humble, and he was truly out there, bringing people to Jesus by the hundreds.  Trouble was, not all of us are called to that sort of ministry, and it can be tough to tell sometimes what you are called to.
• Do you think that some people, or some personality types are just naturally better at spreading the Gospel?
• Do you think that those who are naturals at it should be the ones doing that work so that the rest of us can go about doing other things?
• How would you define "saving a soul"?
• What should happen to/for those folks once they get "saved"?  Who should look after them?
• If you had never been exposed to Christianity until today, how would you want to be approached?  How would you be most likely to accept the Gospel in your life? 

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• What in your life is robing you of hope? 
• What are you doing to help God be wondrous? 
• Are you shedding anything unimportant lately?
• Where might God be drawing you to share His word to others?

Tent Meeting:

The guest preacher was really getting his rhythm on this evening.

Cries of "amen" and "praise the Lord" were gradually building.

Just like a tidal wave coming into shore as it gathers itself.

 

I was working the meeting as an usher.

Well, really, I was just whatever needed done at the moment.

I knew the knots that held up the tent,

 

I knew the preacher's schedule to the minute so he didn't have to.

I knew all of the other ushers, what they did, and why.

I knew that this preacher was really special.

 

There was an old man in the back, by one of the doors.

I made my way over to him and asked if he wanted to sit.

"I'd love to, but that would mean taking someone else's seat" he said.

 

I left and came back with an old rickety folding chair that I had tucked away.

I told him to take it, but be careful when leaning back, it might throw him.

He looked at me with piercing eyes and asked how I was going to sit.

 

I told him it was my place to circulate, look for folks in need, do what I can.

He asked if I ever got tired.  I said "no", this work is all that I need.

Seeing the folks coming from miles around.  Singing and clapping and praising.

 

That was more than enough for me.  All that, and I get to meet some nice people.

He asked me "don't you ever get tired of being in the background, out of the spotlight?"

I told him that's not for me, I prefer to do the little stuff, what I can handle.

 

I asked him whether I could get him anything to drink, or eat.

He said that a bite would be very appreciated.

I came back with my supper and we shared it together.

 

Again those piercing eyes.  "What are you going to do for the next hungry person you meet?"

I told him that I didn't know, but that I was sure provisions would be there if needed.

I just had to trust and obey.

 

The old man put his hand on my head and said a private prayer over me.

Thanking me for my witness.

I was confused.  I hadn't told him anything about Jesus, just shared a chair and a sandwich.

 

Then he said "sometimes, that's all that is needed."

He got up and walked off.

The creaky old chair was silent as he got up.

 

And he didn't leave footprints as he walked away.

But I knew that I had grown a little that day,

By giving away without regrets or worry, just trust. 

 

Shalom!

Saints Peter & Paul, Apostles

Our readings for Saints Peter & Paul Sunday:

1. Acts 12: 1-11
2. Psalms 34: 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
3. I Corinthians 11: 23-26
4. Luke 9: 11b-17

• It sucks to be you
• Peter was spared (at least this time) but James was not.  No explanation is given why James died a martyr's death at Herod's hands, but Peter was rescued.  Yet God is faithful in all things.
• Why do you think that God allows some things to happen and not others?
• Is it for us to even know the answer to that question?
• How would you react if some tragedy befell someone that you counted as holy before God, yet you could find no reason for that tragedy? 

• Finding the rescue
• We like to think that there must be some benefit to being a follower of God.  Not just in the next life but this one.  Trouble is, that benefit can be hard to really appreciate.  True happiness may be hard to find, but sometimes, its even harder to recognize.
• How has following God benefited you?
• Has there ever been a time when God rescued you from something?  Maybe you were tempted to go down a dark path, and somehow God convinced you otherwise.
• What did you learn from that rescue? 

• When all is said and done
• One Ignatian discernment technique is to imagine yourself on your death bed.  You know your end is near, and you are looking back over your life, and you get to this moment that you are in right now.  In that moment of looking back, which path that is set before you will you wish that you had taken?  Now you know the way.
• What do you hope that others will say of you when you're gone?
• What are you doing now to help make that happen?
• Why are those things important to you?
• Do you think that any of those priorities will change in the years ahead? 

• Revelation
• Revelation is a tricky matter.  Down through the centuries, various prophets and charlatans have filled the world with revelation.  Sometimes, its hard to tell the prophets from the charlatans.
• How has God revealed Himself to you?  Prayer, reflecting on Scripture, prayerfully reflecting on Scripture, Bible studies, conversation with friends, ...?
• How do you weigh all of that input?
• How does God reveal Himself to His Church?
• Is that revelation still ongoing?
• What part do you play in that ongoing revelation? 

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• What are you doing today to strengthen your faith in God? 
• Are you grateful for the rescues that God has done in your life? 
• Do you feel that you honor God in your decisions?
• Where might God be calling you to share His love in a new way?

 Shalom!

Corpus Christi Sunday

Our readings for Corpus Christi Sunday:

1. Genesis 14: 19-20
2. Psalms 110: 1, 2, 3, 4
3. I Corinthians 11: 23-26
4. Luke 9: 11b-17

• Exchange of gifts
• To be in right relationship with God entails an exchange of gifts, not to bribe God, but to celebrate that everything comes from and returns to God
• What do you think that God wants from you?
• What do you think that God wants for you?
• What do you really, deep down inside, want from God?
• What do you think God's chances are for getting what He wants?
• What do you think your chances are for getting what you want?
• Do you think that will make you happy? 

• Priesthood of believers
• Ordained or not, we are all called to be priests, it's a fundamental aspect of our identity.
• Define priest.  Get creative.
• Does anyone come to mind who has filled that role especially well in your life?
• What made them a good priest?
• Why do you think that all of us are called to be priests in one fashion or another? 

• A friend like no other
• It's hard to know how much Jesus knew about His passion going in.  My bet is that the revelation of just what was coming was gradual, and that Jesus had to process that revelation a piece at a time.  I also bet that He took a very bittersweet comfort from celebrating one last Passover with His friends, knowing that it was never going to be quite like this again.
• Who are some special friends that have been a support for you?
• Would you say that God had worked through them in your life?
• What is about one of those friends that you treasure the most?
• What do you think they might treasure about you? 

• Basket case
• Jesus never did tell His disciples what was coming, He just gave them the next thing that needed to be done.  In so doing, He invited them into a miracle.  In so doing He invited them into the fellowship of the Trinity, into the ongoing creation story that is still unfolding.
•  When is a time that you felt called of God to do something where you had no idea how it would turn out?
• How did you come to be certain of that direction, not knowing how it was to end?
• How did that turn out?
• How do you know that the effects of that act of faith are played out even today?
• How does that make you feel about God, about yourself? 

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• Where is God calling you into greater happiness?
• How is your priesthood progressing lately?
• Are your friendships making a better person of you?
• Where might God be calling you to reckless obedience?

Bread Unnoticed

Indeed, that was a day of miracles.

 

It started with Jesus' welcome of the crowds.
He had gone there to get some rest,

But still He welcomed the crowds when they gathered.
As though He somehow found a second wind.

Then, wave after wave of needy villagers came.

All of them touched, healed, loved.

Every one of them transformed in the encounter

No matter where they came from.

But the rest of us, we could tell that this could get ugly.

All of those folks far from home, kith and kin,

Transformed they may be, but soon, soon

They were going to need food and shelter.

 

Besides, all of us were nearing the end of our endurance.
Striving to find the inner reserves needed to meet the seemingly endless need.

But instead of sending them away, Jesus told us to "lean in" and meet the need -

Meet the needy.

The next miracle was that we somehow found the trust we needed.

The trust we needed to put one foot in front of the other one more time.

Get the people seated to receive, we knew not what.

We prayed with Him over a few loaves and fishes, to what purpose we knew not.

Then He asked us to give from our need, our lack, our fatigue.

After all, by then, those were the only gifts we had left.

The next miracle was that we found just enough strength and just enough courage

To distribute the little that we had to those massed there that day.

I wanted to apologize for such miserable offerings.

But I saw understanding in their eyes.  They knew.

And so we moved among them, as needy as they were.

And gave away all that we had, no longer caring whether it was enough.

 

Only, only desiring that we could see this last miracle through.

Some saw only bread and fish that day.

Some saw a divine gift-giver in full riot. 

I, I saw resurrection within my own poor heart.

 

Shalom!

Trinity Sunday

Our readings for Trinity Sunday:

1. Proverbs 8: 22-31
2. Psalms 8: 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
3. Romans 5: 1-5
4. John 16: 12-15

• Playing before God
• We speak of attaining a good work/life balance.  Maybe we're going at this wrong.
• Is play mutually exclusive to work?
• Why can't work be holy, and fun at the same time?
• Have you ever experienced that?
• Did it pay the bills too?
• Does it have to? 

• The mind of God
• How do you learn what's on God's mind?
• Does nature help you in that regard?
• Does that revelation give you anything that you can put into words?
• Is it still valuable? 

• Forged in affliction
• The so-called prosperity gospel would have us believe that God shows his generosity to His elect in this life.  At the other end of the spectrum is the perspective that this life was meant to be short, brutish, and mean, and we should only expect happiness and fulfillment in the next life.  I think that God wants to offer us yet a third way.
• Do you think that God brings hard times into our lives on purpose?
• Or, do you think that God works to transform those hardships into opportunities?
•  If you feel that way, what sort of opportunities are we talking about here?
• Does that have to be in the context of affliction? 

• Triple colloquy 
• A painting The Two Trinities offers a different perspective on the place of Jesus as a member of the Holy Family a Jesus as a member of the Triune God at the same time.  This might offer a different take on how we can approach God in prayer.
• When you pray, do you ever pray to the Holy Spirit?
• How is that experience different from when you pray to God?
• Do you ever ask Jesus to intercede for you, get you an "in" with the Big Guy?
• Why or why not?
• How about Mary?
• Or Joseph for that matter? 

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• Where might God be calling you to play more, or differently?
• How is God revealing Himself to me today?
• How might the Trinity help me improve my prayer life?
• What is your image of God like these days?  

Shalom!

Pentecost Sunday

Our readings for Pentecost Sunday of Easter:

1. Acts 2: 1-11
2. Psalms 104: 1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34
3. 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-7, 12-13
4. John 20: 19-23

• Getting the word out
• Its understandable to look back at those early days of the Church and feel some long-term nostalgia.  Those first disciples didn't have Jesus in bodily form anymore.  Threats of persecution from the Jews and the Romans were present.  Doctrinal differences from within were emerging.  Yet, in spite of those challenges, the early Church managed to not only survive but thrive.
• Do you think that our Church today is doing any better or worse at addressing the challenges before us?
• What do you think was the secret of those earliest Christians?
• Can we apply any of their approach to the challenges that we face today?
• Where can we start here, now? 

• The mind of God
• Unlike us, God is able to multi-task quite well.  We are individually and corporately in His thoughts every minute of every day.  We are each part of the ongoing miracle of the abundant life that He has in store for all of His creatures.
• If you could have a face to face with God, would you?
• Would you come with an agenda, things that you wanted to be sure came up in the conversation?
• How much would such an encounter be different from normal time that you spend in prayer?
• Why is that? 

• Finding your charism(s)
• A charism is a gift of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon a community (such as the teaching charism that the Sr.s of St. Louis share with their students) or an individual.  God gives charisms to build up His Kingdom.
• What do you think your charism(s) are?
• Do you think that your closest friends would agree?
• Do you think that you are making the best use of those gifts?
• How would you know? 
  

• Go, you are sent
• There are a number of things that Jesus didn't say in this passage.  He didn't say that there was no danger to His disciples.  He didn't say that everything was always going to go their way.  What He did do was to give them a mission, and that transformed them.
• Where have you seen the Presence of the Holy Spirit at work?
• What had to happen before the Holy Spirit could work in that situation?
• How can we as a community be more open to the Holy Spirit in our community?
• How do you think that you, as an individual could be more open to the Holy Spirit in your life? 
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• What of your life in Christ would you most want to share?
• What is getting in the way of a better prayer life for you?
• Are you making full use of God's gifts to you?
• What in your life is robbing you of peace? 

 Peace Give I to Thee

Lo

I am with you always

Even unto the end of time.

 

Dangers,

Uncertainty,

And more will come your way.

 

But know that none of that -

In any way -

Changes your call, nor my promise.

 

 Lord, give me your peace and no other.

Help me to look to you above all else.

And in you, find the true meaning of all else.

 

That I might see the life that You have given -

In its proper light.

Your gift, to serve Your Kingdom.

 

I give up my claim to security, certainty, clarity.

None of them were mine to begin with.

Help me to know your great "I am" in all things.

 

And in giving up all to you, I find you in all. 

 

Shalom!