26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

1. Amos 6: 1a, 4-7
2. Psalms 146: 7, 8-9, 9-10
3. 1 Timothy 6: 11-16
4. Luke 16: 19-31

• The collapse of Joseph
• There are many these days who raise the lament that we as a culture, maybe even a civilization, are no longer able to discourse, to hear each other out, to really listen to each other and get out of our familiar comfort zone out of fear.
• Do you think that what we're seeing today is materially worse than past generations, even past years?
• How do we, as individuals, foster hope for a better tomorrow?
• How can we, as God's children here on Earth, start to build a better tomorrow?
• How can we move through and out of despair? 

• Finding the oppressed
• Oppression and privilege seem to be everywhere these days.  If you enjoy any privileges, then it must be because  you oppressing someone else.  And if you don't have everything that you wanted out of life, it's because you are oppressed.
• Do you agree with the above assessment?
• Do you think that the only way for someone to become wealthy is to take wealth from others?
• If so, what do you offer someone who feels that they have been oppressed?  

• Learning by enduring
• One famous bit of advice is that the race is as much mental as it is physical.  Seems as though applies to so much in life. 
• What are you enduring these days?
• How do you make it from one day to the next?
• Is it getting any easier?
• What do you think God's point in making you go through that?
• Does God have to have a point? 

• Seeing the flowers and the flower peddler
• I wonder whether the rich man (notice he has no name) asks that warning be sent to his brothers.  I wonder whether the rich man wanted to warn them that indifference has serious consequences, or to warn them that the indifference itself was killing them.
• I have to confess, when I see someone by the side of the road selling flowers, fruit, or just looking for money, I try to become invisible.  I don't want to make eye contact.
• How have you found ways to connect to the needy that cross your path?
• How do you know that you must be the one to help?
• How do you know when you've given enough?
• How do you avoid "fig leaf" giving?  That's giving just enough to assuage your conscience, but not enough to really make a difference. 

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• Where might I pray in greater hope??
• Where do I need to show more mercy? 
• How could God transform something that I'm enduring into blessing??
• Where can I be a better steward of God's gifts?

 The Eyes of Jesus

 My students have all sorts of hopes, dreams, aspirations.

Some just want that six-figure income that they are sure is out there for them.

Others envision a dream job building the next wonder video game.

 

The more thoughtful ones want to find themselves.

Find where they fit, where they are needed, where they find purpose.

So that they can matter, even if just a little.

 

I used to despair of telling some of them that they are in the wrong place -

Marooned in a vain search for a career where there is none for them,

Try something else, anything else I sometimes wanted to scream.

 

Then I asked myself whether a career is the only brass ring in College.

Or whether there might be other/additional benefits to being here.

And I wondered how I might more effectively usher them into their true purpose.

 

But I don't have the insight nor the training for anything that lofty.

And lately, its come to me that maybe my best gift that I have to offer

Is to tell them that they already matter.

 

Right here, right now, to me if to no one else.

That sometimes the journey is the destination,

And that no salary will ever make them worth more than they are worth right now. 

Shalom!