Weekly Readings Reflections: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

Sometimes, it's hard to believe that we are God's "special possession". Things don't go the way that we want, disappointments arise that we didn't expect, and we begin to wonder where God is in all of that.
What makes you feel special in God's eyes?
If you were to describe God to someone, what character traits would you give Him?
How do you think that God would describe you?
How does that shape your prayer life?

God's kindness endures forever. He never tires of showing His kindness and mercy.
How has God shown kindness to your family, community, parish, nation?
Do you think that God would ever withhold that kindness?
What would we have to do before God ceased being kind?
How likely is that?

God is about giving us second, third, fourth, ... chances in life.
When was a time when you turned God down for something, some call on your life, but you repented later?
How did you come to see that from His perspective?
Where did you find the courage to change your mind, your heart?
How did that turn out in the end?
Was that what you expected?

All of us are troubled about many things. Some are very basic like the occasional student that I have who is food or shelter insecure. Some are less basic, but no less important like corruption in our government officials, or the growing acts of violence aimed at places of worship.
Do you think that Jesus is here to minister to us in all of our troubles, or are some of our troubles too small, too insignificant for Him?
Is it always worthwhile to pray for needs/worries/desires?
What are some ways that you have ministered to others in their troubles?
Do you see that gift that you gave as bringing about the Kingdom of God?
Who are some who have helped to bring about the Kingdom of God in your life?
What have you learned from that?

The Kingdom is at Hand, and Feet too

We all had come back to Jesus after He had sent us among God's chosen.

Some of us had mementos of the journey that we'd been on.

One evening, we all gathered and brought out our memories to share.

I was reluctant to bring mine out, but finally Andrew convinced me.

It was a nail from a horseshoe that we had picked up from a farm.

Their only plow horse had gone lame because of a lost shoe.

She was a widow with young children, and planting season underway.

No time to let the horse heal before they would need him again.

The rest of the village could not spare their animals either.

The family shared what they could with us.

But they knew it was going to be a long, harsh winter.

I've farmed. I knew the back-breaking toil needed.

I asked to see their plow yoke.

The wooden crossbeam was worn and smooth from use.

The leather strapping still in good shape.

I hefted the yoke to my shoulders and looked at Andrew.

He just nodded and stepped into the yoke.

The widow was reluctant to let us pull her plow,

But we told her that we were young, and strong.

The soil there proved almost eager for the seed.

Andrew and I worked from dawn to dusk for days on end.

But we got her little farm plowed, fixed some things too.

We were too exhausted to talk much at the end of each day.

But when we saw that she was going to be OK for now -

She clasped our new roughened hands, looked us in the eye,

And said "surely God is with us." and sent us on our way.

I hear that she's gotten to be quite a preacher in her village.

Shalom!

Weekly Readings Reflections