27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

1. Habakkuk 1: 2-3, 2: 2-4
2. Psalms 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9
3. II Timothy 1: 6-8, 13-14
4. Luke 17: 5-10

• Finding vision
• Some of us don't expect much of this life.  We know that heaven will be glorious, and look at this life as little more than a proving ground that we have to endure on our way to our reunion with God and our loved ones.  At the same time, we know better than to equate discipleship with prosperity.
• What do you hope for in this life?  Where do you think that you'll be in five years?
• What about your family as a whole?
• Your parish/congregation?
• Our Church at large?
• Where did you get that notion of what to hope for? 

• Could you spell that out for me?
• The children of Israel had had enough and they were not going to take it any longer.  They began to doubt Moses' skill in leading them, and maybe even God's intentions.  Maybe things would have gone better all of the way around if God had just told them (through Moses of course) that He was toughening them up for the battles ahead, that they were learning obedience and many other things.  In essence, give some meaning to their suffering.
• What are some things that you have suffered in life?
• Did you ever find any meaning to that suffering?
• Does all suffering have to have meaning?
• If it has meaning, do we have to know what that is? 

• Ashamed of God's ministers
• Diversity within Christian circles is at an all time high. Different beliefs lead to divisions among believers in ways large and small, and it seems that unity is all but impossible.  I remember a friend years ago who had a strong Franciscan background telling me that "when we spoke of ecumenism, we meant the Jesuits."
• How important is unity among/between us?
• If you find that you disagree with something that you hear from the pulpit or that your child hears in Confirmation class, what should you do?
• How do you tell whether a disagreement is something that you can live with, or signals a deep need for you to speak up or just move on to some other community that better agrees with your values? 

• Increase our faith
• Just ahead of this week's Gospel Jesus tells His disciples that even if a brother sins against you seven times in a day, and they repent each time you are to forgive them.  That's what inspired them to ask Jesus to increase their faith.
• Who are some of the people that you have had the toughest time forgiving?
• Before you forgave them, what did that do to you?
• How did you find the strength/courage to forgive?
• How did you know that you had been successful in forgiving them?
• How did that forgiveness change you? 

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• Where might I pray in greater hope?
• Am I willing to let God lead me through suffering?
• Where can I find more common ground with other of God's children?
• Where am I still on a forgiveness journey?

 Clutching my Hurts

Forgiveness can be a lengthy journey.

Sometimes with setbacks and detours.

Always requiring courage and faith.

 

Courage that the unexplored parts 

Of my heart where forgiveness goes

Will prove to be healing in the end.

 

Faith that God

An unseen, and often unfelt Presence

Is always there along the way at each step.

 

And that letting go of the ashes of my anger

Is more about healing than losing.

More about love than vindication.

 

True forgiveness takes practice.

I forgive you if, or when, or because

All put strings on what must be a free gift.

 

No holds barred love.

That brings us closer to God.

By helping us to act more like He does.

 

Shalom!