27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Habakkuk 1: 2-3; 2: 2-4
   
2. Psalms 95: 1-2, 6-7, 8-9
   
3. 2 Timothy 1: 6-8, 13-14
   
4. Luk3 17: 5-10

• Be the vision
  
• Martin Luther King had a dream.  I suspect that vision guided him, helped him prioritize his live, figure out what was important and what was not.
• What's your vision?
• If someone asked you to tell them what the world you live in really needs, what would you say?
• How committed are you to that vision?
• When was the last time you did anything to make that happen?
  

• The dangers of a soft heart
  
• I used to think that that hard-hearted folks were very removed from me.  Not so much anymore.  A soft heart is one that's open.
• How does God speak to you, Scripture, the testimony of a fellow journeyer, tragic life events, moments when you feel completely unable to carry on, ...?
• Is God speaking to you in more ways lately?
• Are you getting better at hearing His voice in familiar ways?
• Where do you think this process might be going?
  

• Come, sit down and have lunch with the gifted kids
  
• When I was in High School, there were lots of cliques on campus.  Some more obvious than others.  The gifted kids, the ones who took the AP and honors courses, were a rather subtle bunch.  They didn't have a team T-shirt or anything, but if you were in the know, you could spot them.
• Are you gifted?
• What are your gifts?
• How are you developing them?
• How did you know that you even had them?
  

• Just do it
  
• In the verses just ahead of this week's Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples essentially to forgive without limit.  That's what excited them to ask for more faith.  It sounds as though Jesus did not cut them a lot of slack at this point.
• Think of a time when you felt a tug, a nudge if you will from God to do something that looked as though it would be hard, awkward, uncomfortable, even foolhardy.
• How did you finally decide what to do?
• How did that turn out?
• Do you think your decision changed you?
• How?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Where might God be calling me to be more aware, more focused on His vision in my life?
   
2. How can I be more soft-hearted?
3. Which graces is God calling me to pray for?
   
4. Where is God calling me past my comfort zone?

 Shalom!

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Amos 6: 1a, 4-7
   
2. Psalms 146: 7, 8-9, 9-10
   
3. 1 Timothy 2: 1-8
   
4. Luke 15: 1-13
   

• We are all in this together
  
• Regardless what your beliefs are regarding global warming, the debate over climate change, what we as a species must do about it, and whether it's too late already have highlighted the simple truth that our actions have impact far beyond our borders.
• What justice issues are you concerned about?
• How do you feel about the rest of the planet?  Concerned, but unavailable, overwhelmed, apathetic, complacent?
• What would you like for your attitude to be?
  

• Privilege
  
• Privilege has gotten to be a four-letter word.  If your family was stable, loving, nurturing, then you are privileged, and you have an intrinsic advantage over those who grew up in less than ideal surroundings.
• For those of us who enjoyed or enjoy privileges, what responsibilities come with them?
• Is privilege necessarily bad?
• Is there any real way to "level the playing field" for those who have lived a life of being marginalized and silenced?
• What can we do about that?
  

• Pursuing grace
  
• If God's grace is free, unearned gift, do we just sit and wait for it?
• Are there different kinds of grace in our lives?
• Is prayer the only thing that we can do to prepare for those graces?
• What would your life be like if you were "full of grace"?
  

• Is wealth bad for your health?
  
• Relating to others in need can be challenging.  Their need could be loneliness, poor health, loss of a job, ... and relating to someone in such circumstances often defies our best intentions.
• If you suddenly fell heir to some vast sum of money, how would that change the way that you relate to others?
• How you relate to God?
• How you relate to yourself?
• Would you be better able to minister to those most in need?
• Why?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Where might God be calling me to be more aware, more focused, giving something up to make room for something better?
   
2.  Can you share your privilege with others?
3. Which graces is God calling me to call upon Him for?
   
4. Am I able to see past my own possessions, recognition, even my health?

 Shalom!

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Amos 8: 4-7
   
2. Psalms 113: 1-2, 4-6, 7-8
   
3. 1 Timothy 2: 1-8
   
4. Luke 15: 1-13
   

• Showing mercy until it hurts
  
• These days, there seem to be an endless supply of justice issues demanding attention.  Doing the right thing always bears a cost.  Sometimes we pay it directly, sometimes its through a tax hike, or loss of some benefit that we are used to.
• Where are you showing mercy these days?
• How did you get involved?
• What keeps you doing that?
  

• Who is my neighbor/who are the poor?
  
• In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus answers the question of "who is my neighbor".
• Who are the poor?  Is it just those with nowhere to sleep at night, those who are marginalized and voiceless, those who are comfortable, yet underpaid, those exposed to unnecessary dangers on their job, ...?
• How is God going to lift them up?
• Why does He have to involve us?
  

• Jesus is my campaign manager
  
• All of us agree that politics is a dirty business.  Its easy to despair of anything really good coming out of government.  The separation between Church and State has come to mean that the Church can never influence the State.
  
• Do you think that God has a stake in our political process?
• If we pray to God for better government, better representatives, better political systems, How do you think that God will answer?
• How did governing get to be such a mess anyway?
  

• Return on investment
  
• The prudent among us are always looking towards the future.  Will I have enough money to retire on?  Once I retire, how long will I be able to live on my accumulated savings?  What sort of a legacy do I want to leave to my children?
• If you were attend your own funeral, what would you want to hear people say about you?  I know what I'd want to hear: "Look, he's moving!!!"
• How about in another ten years?
• What are you doing today to help make that happen?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Who might God be asking me to defend that I hardly recognize?
   
2. Who are the poor in my life?
3. Where is God moving in our city, state, country that He wants my help?
   
4. Where might God be calling me to greater/different generosity?

 Shalom!

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Exodus 32: 7-11, 13-14
   
2. Psalms 51: 3-4, 12-13, 17, 19
   
3. 1 Timothy 1: 12-17
   
4. Luke 15: 1-32
   

• Your people
  
• Sometimes a husband or wife will try to blame their spouse for one of the children.  Dad opens a conversation with "Do you know what your son did today at school?"  That's shorthand for "I fail to see any contribution of mine in this son of ours."
• Think of the last time that you prayed to God on someone else's behalf.  How did you try to motivate God to do what you wanted?
• Reminding God of all of the good that this other person has done?
• Reminding God that God is first of all merciful and kind?
• Reminding God that you, the one doing the praying, has been good and faithful, so now God owes you this?
• Offering God faithfulness and discipline on your part, if only God will have mercy on your friend?
• ...
• How effective do you think any of those are in moving God?
• What does that tell you about God?
• What does that tell you about you?
  

• Give me a clean heart
  
• How would you define a clean heart?
• Knowing what you do about King David, Moses, Abraham, did any/all of them have a clean heart?
• How clean is your heart before God?
• What would you think it would take to make your heart more clean?
  

• Mercy me, mercy why
  
• All of us can pinpoint times/areas in our lives in which God has shown us mercy.
• Why do you think that He did that?
• Did that abundance of mercy from God change you in any way?
• Did that mercy equip you for anything later in life?
• Have you found a way to share that mercy with others?
• Did God's mercy teach you something profound that you would not have realized otherwise?
• How are you doing in making good use of that mercy?
  

• Expectations
  
• The prodigal father in this parable forgives so much.  You would think that the father would rest assured that this lost and found son would never do anything so heartless again.  But we know that is not a given.
• Think of a time when you have extended mercy to someone.  What sort of changes did you look for in their life?
• Was that reasonable?
• If you knew for a fact that this other person was not going to live up to your expectations on them, would you still be merciful towards them?
• Why does God extend mercy toward us?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Where might God be trying to reveal herself to you in new ways?
   
2. What would your life be like with a truly clean heart?
3. Where is God's mercy in my life changing me today?
   
4. Where might God be calling me to reckless mercy?

 Shalom!

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Wisdom 9: 13-18b
   
2. Psalms 90: 3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
   
3. Philemon 9-10, 12-17
   
4. Luke 14: 25-33
   

• Embracing the mystery
  
• In Catholic theology, a mystery is not something that can never be apprehended, rather it is something that can never be completely understood.  Who knows, quantum mechanics might qualify as a mystery under that definition.
  
• Do you feel at all wise?
• How do you feel that wisdom came to you?
• Are there any folks in your life who are benefiting (in one way or another) from that treasure trove of wisdom that you have?
• Would you want to be more wise?
• How would you support that process of gaining more wisdom?
  

• God is ageless and age transcendent
  
• Keeping the "big picture" in mind gives us context, helps us to realize that the immediate challenges confronting us are all part of something bigger, that their true significance often is very different than we might think.
• Have you ever prayed for that bigger picture?
• Have you ever asked God the eternal question "why"?
• What has been the answer to that prayer for you?
• Does that mean that you should stop asking?
  

• Getting our priorities right
  
• One tenet of Ignatian spirituality is to cultivate an attitude of indifference towards outcomes in life.  Not because a disciple doesn't care, but that their principal care is that God be glorified in their life, that the disciple can draw closer to God.
• Pretend that indifference was something that you have been able to thoroughly embrace.  How would that change your prayer?
• How would such indifference change your stress levels, your anxiety levels?
• What are some virtues that would support such indifference?
• How do you think that you can achieve such indifference?
  

• Motivation is everything
  
• All of us need to eat.  God, in His generosity, provides what we need.  But that relationship with our food becomes unhealthy when we use eating to comfort ourselves, or try to establish control, or act out in some sort of defiance or ...
• What should be our attitude towards the daily bread that God gives us?
• What about our possessions, our homes, clothing, Teslas?
• Our families?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Where might God be calling me to greater wisdom?
   
2. Can I ask god "why" and still be a person of faith?
3. How much do I trust God to do the right thing, to get the ultimate good?
   
4. Am I clinging to any part of my life that I need to let go of?

 Shalom!

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Sirach 3: 17-18, 20, 28-29
   
2. Psalms 68: 4-5, 6-7, 10-11
   
3. Hebrews 12: 18-19, 22-24a
   
4. Luke 14: 7-14
   

• Getting involved in your giving
  
• We all know that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9).  Does God also cherish an involved giver?
• Think about the giving that you do.  How are you involved?  Do you have an automatic withdrawal, you have to write a check regularly, you go to the charity of your choice and volunteer time, you serve on their board of directors, ...?
• Does it matter how you are involved, as long as the needy people get their needs met?
• Why is it that you give?
• Has that giving changed you at all?
• Is it more than just a noble habit?
  

• God helps those who help themselves
  
• None of us likes to see someone take advantage of other's generosity.  The person who is permanently short of funds, always looking for a handout, never able to make good on their commitments, ... would appear irresponsible, even lazy, and hence not deserving of generosity.
• How would you separate the deserving needy from the undeserving needy?
• What should we do with/for the undeserving needy?
• If God loves a cheerful giver, does it matter whether the giver is generous towards someone who is deserving or not?
  

• Awesome God
  
• We all agree that God is awesome.  So what?
• What are some things/memories/people/events in your life that are truly awesome?
• What made/makes them awesome?
• Do any of those criteria apply to our God?
• What awesome thing has God done for you /to you lately?
  

• Heavenly rank
  
• In many contexts, we know where we stand.  Where I work the deans have department chairs reporting to them, the department chairs have faculty reporting to them, the researchers among the faculty have graduate assistants reporting to them.  Everyone knows their place by means of well-established criteria.
• In the kingdom of heaven, things are a little harder.  What makes for greatness in the Kingdom of God?
• Is it our place to aspire to such greatness?
• Where does humility factor into those aspirations?
  

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Where might God be calling me to let my giving transform me?
   
2. Where might God be calling me to be generous to those that I have little in common with?
3. What does God's awesomeness tell me about God?  About me?
   
4. Where might God be calling me to awesomeness of my own?

 Shalom!

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our readings for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time are:

1. Jeremiah 38: 4-6, 8-10
   
2. Psalms 40: 2, 3, 4, 18
   
3. Hebrews 12: 1-4
   
4. Luke 12: 49-53
   

• Perishing for lack of prophets
  
• In times of crisis a community will likely actively seek God's guidance, if not intervention.  But sometimes, a reliable prophet can be hard to find, especially if that community has made a habit out of driving out, persecuting, and otherwise not appreciating the work of prophets in their midst.
• With all of the sources for guidance that the Church offers us today, do we still need prophets?
• What's your definition of a prophet?
• How do you think that God chooses such people?
• Could you see a prophet being an asset in your community?
  

• In celebration of lowliness
  
• Mother Theresa is probably one of few saints to be recognized and appreciated by the world at large.  Usually we kill such people instead.
  
• What do you think was Mother Theresa's most enduring trait?
  
• How do you think that she became that way.?
• Would you want to become like her in that way?
  

• Family inspiration
  
• Think about family and friends who have gone before you.
• Do you think that they are anxiously watching you now?
• How might they be influencing you life today?
• How might you share your family memories with others, who may not have the "cheering section" that you do?
  

• What divides us and what brings us together
  
• God's highest good for all of humanity is that we all find ourselves, each other, and God in a healed, holy, and whole Kingdom of God.  Simple enough when you put it that way.  But the Devil is in the details.
• What sets you apart from "just anyone"?
• What do you typically do when you are tempted to "blend in"?
• Has that behavior of yours ever threatened whatever relationship that you had with the other person?

• Preparation for Reconciliation
  

1. Where might God be calling you to be more prophetic in your life?
   
2. Where might God be calling you draw inspiration from one of our spiritual ancestors?
3. Where might God be calling you closer to Himself by a family member or friend who is already gone ahead of you?
   
4. Where might God be calling you to make a difference by being different?

 Shalom!