Weekly Readings Reflections: 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Naaman was in a position of authority in his own land. And yet he ventured out of his comfort zone to seek Elisha out and ask for healing. Naaman probably hoped for some quest that he would have to follow, or some test of his fortitude, instead, he was just asked to wash in the muddy Jordan.
Have you ever found it difficult to accept a gift because you were not humble enough?
How did you eventually come to understand that?
Why is humility so hard?

Back in the day, each god was presumed confined to the land where they were worshiped. When a people won a battle or war with another nation, it was because their god was badder than the other guy's god. The notion of one God overall was slow in coming to the Israelites, and it can be hard for us as well.
Have you ever found it difficult to relate to/minister to someone who was remarkably different from you? Maybe it was the culture, their occupation, their spending habits, their taste in wine, ...
How did you manage to get past that, to really see them for who they are, despite your differences?
Did those differences go away, or just become less important or even be transformed into something that you enjoyed?
Do you think that you're getting better at seeing past the differences?

It's good to know that Jesus died for our sins so that we don't have to. I don't have a lot of experience in this regard, but I'm pretty sure that I'd be happy to hear that Jesus has done all of the dying that's needed. Or has He?
What do you think that it means to "die with Christ"?
Can there ever be an "upside" to suffering?
Have you ever grown/matured in the midst of, because of suffering in your life?
Was Jesus at all present for/to you in that experience?
How did you pray in that encounter?

Jesus did not appear to promise the ten lepers anything. He just told them to show themselves to the priests. I'm sure that those poor souls, who doubtless had endured countless rejections in their lives were not looking forward to the reception that they would get when they got to the priests. But they went anyway, maybe without any clear indicator of what they would find.
Have you ever thought to ask God "why"? Maybe it was "why me" or "why now", or "what's in it for me" and many other questions.
Do you think that God minded hearing that question from you?
When do you think that asking God questions transitions over into questioning God?
What might we do to make ourselves more open to God's grace, no matter how it comes to us?

I'm going anyway

regardless of whether the rest of you want to or not.

Sure, in our present condition, the priests will find us disgusting.

Our flesh slowly rotting even while we live in this forsaken shadow world.

Our kith and kin barely able to recognize us any longer.

But I refuse to let this disease define me.

I defy its slow, relentless march of destruction.

I have lost everything to its ravages.

But I refuse to lose hope.

Hope that our God still loves me.

Hope that He cares in ways that I can scarce imagine.

Hope that this suffering, rejection, and want -

That it all means something.

It's a beautiful day for a walk.

I have nothing more urgent to do.

Who knows what I'll encounter along the way.

Perhaps something to excite my sense of wonder.

But I'd rather not take this journey alone.

Won't any of you come along with me?

You don't even have to share my hope.

Just share a walk with me.

A walk from despair into the light.

Where anything is possible if only we let it.

Where we no longer need be alone with our suffering.

But rejoin the ranks of God's people.

Shalom!

Weekly Readings Reflections