30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

1. Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18
2. Psalms 34: 2-3, 17-18, 19, 23
3. II Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18
4. Luke 18: 1-8

• The power of prayer
•  It's often instructive to try to put words to our God-image to see whether we really believe in the God that we think that we do.  
• A related question would be: "if you were going to paint a picture of you praying to God, what would that scene look like?
• What expression are you wearing on your face?
• What does God's face look like?  Is it turned toward you?
• If you could change that picture, how would you change that picture? 

• Taking refuge in God
• Do you see God as your defender?
• If so, what do you think God will defend you from?
• What don't you think that God will defend you from?
• Are those defenses at all conditional?  If you sin, are you on your own? 

• The message of your life
• Write your own eulogy.
• Then give that eulogy to someone else, ask them to read it, and ask them if they recognize that person that you described.
• Is your eulogy about the person that you wish you were, is about to emerge in your life, or some secret part of you that only you can know or acknowledge?
• Is that person that you described in your eulogy going to become more evident in the near future? 

• Finding God in prayer
• As I get older, I'm more and more reminded that I am not God, and astonishingly, God is not me either.  God has His own plans and agenda, and He asks me to follow His lead.  Sometimes, its easy to pray to ourselves, and just use our prayer to reinforce our own biases.  If you don't get surprised by prayer from time to time, maybe it's time to change who you're praying to.
• How do you select what to pray for?
• Have you ever experienced a profound change in the way you pray and what you pray for as you are praying through the days and weeks?
• Why do you think that happens?
• How did your feelings toward what you were praying for change? 

• Preparation for Reconciliation
• How might I find greater humility?
• Where can I gain more trust in God?
• Where is that better version of myself struggling to break free?
• Where can I partner with God more closely?

 God Have Mercy on Me a Sinner

God,

Forgive me if you can.

For all of the times that I have judged others.

 

The disorganized student of mine,

The homeless that I see on my way home,

Even the kid on his bicycle because he's not wearing a helmet.

 

Teach me your mercy.

That I might see how your mercy envelops me.

And learn myself to show some to those around me.

 

To see myself in your hands.

Rather than seeing myself as better than others.

 

Help me to see you in all of your children.

Not just the ones who are like me.

 

Give me the courage to open my heart to others 

In a smile freely given,

And a listening ear that is slow to judge.

 

Give me the perseverance to always look forward.

Always grateful for a new day.

Excited by the sunrise.

 

Help me be grateful for each sunset.

As I commend my spirit into your care once again 

And always. 

 

Shalom!