Weekly Readings Reflections: 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time:

Each of us has our own destiny, our own path to manifest God's presence to those around us. Burnout is not so much a consequence of working too hard, as it is working at the wrong thing.
What are some things in your life that give you deep, abiding joy?
Do they ever leave you exhausted/empty from putting in too much work?
How did you originally get involved in that work?
How do you see that work of yours making the world a better place?

Giving to the poor happens at many different levels in many different ways.
What are some needs of the poor that you see that still need to be addressed?
Who (either individuals or organizations) would be the best ones to address those needs?
How do you think new folks could/should be recruited to take up that work so that there is always a steady stream of "new blood" coming into those ministries?

In our culture, leaders want to show themselves to be strong, capable, resolute, maybe even wise. But hardly ever humble.
Who are some real leaders that you respect and try to emulate?
What is it about them that you admire?
What is it about them that inspires you?
Do you feel as though you are at all inspiring?

Ours is not a defensive faith, one that builds walls and barriers to ward off corrupting influences. Rather, we are called to be bold, to speak prophetically to the communities, culture, and world around us, to be heard, to be remembered, to make a critical difference.
In our world today, hope seems in short supply. What do you hope for?
How do you see bringing that hoped-for reality about?
Is it fair to say that this hope filled reality is the Kingdom of God?
How do you think that we can convey that hope to those around us?
How can we begin to lead, rather than just hold on?

Heal my Fear

I'm not good at being generous.

I always worry where an act of reckless giving will end.

I don't want to start something that I cannot finish.

I don't want to start something that I'll not be able to follow through on.

There's so much I don't know about my future.

How long I'll live, how much care I'll need, how much it will cost.

I long for security and safety, always knowing -

That there really is no such thing in this world.

Only trust.

Only an open hand.

Only eyes to see the need with my name on it.

Only ears to hear those whose hunger God has sent me to fill.

Help me to learn that my greatest joy

Lies in letting go.

Getting out of Your way.

Letting the miracle into my life and others.

Shalom!

Weekly Readings Reflections