Weekly Readings Reflections: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

In a counter-intuitive way, God shows His might by working through each and all of us. Many of us are hard to coordinate. I'm sure it would be a lot easier for God to get things done Himself. But he chooses over and over again to invite as many of us as possible in to ministry so that we truly become a priestly people.
How have you gotten involved in the various ministries that you are in? Was it bulletin announcements, someone recruiting you personally, a gentle nudge coming to you in prayer, ...?
How do you know whether you are in the right place?
Do you have to be good at a ministry to have a calling to that?
How do you tell whether you are successful in your ministry?
What is success?

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the relentless day to day. We can despair of ever getting a break in the demands on our thoughts, emotions, bodies, and wonder when there will ever be a pervasive sense of peace in our lives.
What do you do when you feel as though life is just "too much", that there are more demands on you than you can possibly meet?
Where do you find help in such times?
What form does that help take? Is it a different perspective on your part, maybe a change in priorities, a shift in your outlook, unexpected relief from one burden or another?
The sentiment "there are multitudes of people who would be very grateful to have your problems" is not much help. Why do you suppose that is?

One rather frightening thought is that those that you have taught in years gone by are still looking to you for an example, looking to your life as proof that the Gospel really works long term.
Who are some of the folks who have been an example to you?
Do they still inspire you?
Do you think that your life still inspires those that you have witnessed to over your life?
What might you want to do differently to be a better encouragement to them?

One tenet of Ignatian spirituality is that creation is ongoing. God wishes to have each of us take our rightful and destined place in furthering that creation, helping the rest of creation to achieve its full glory.
If you look at your work as God's disciple as a creation story, what are you creating?
Is that the same thing that you were co-creating with God a year ago?
Is it different from what you were bringing to life five years ago?
Do you feel as though you are getting more creative as you mature?

Helping Hands

Caring for the elderly and infirm is a humbling experience,

A road full of the unexpected and surprising.

Just when you think that you have their needs attended to,

Something shifts, needs change, their perception transforms.

And there you are, scrambling to respond, trying to figure it all out,

And wondering why you didn't see that coming in the first place.

Caring for the elderly makes you grateful for all the help.

Especially for the occasional specialist who looks to the whole person.

Especially for the occasional friend who reminds you of self care -

Reminds you that you're useless once you burn out.

Caring for others reminds you that all of us depend upon each other.

None of us is as independent as we might like to believe.

And caring for another reminds you of what is truly important -

In the midst of the ceaseless clamor of things demanding attention.

You are important to me, and it is important that I remember that.

Finding myself in offering you some small help fulfills me.

And through that vast web of care giving and receiving

Flows the love of God for, with, and through all of us.

Shalom!

Weekly Readings Reflections