Sept 24 2006
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wis 2:12, 17-20 The wicked say: Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.
Ps 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8 R. (6b) The Lord upholds my life.
O God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause. O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
For the haughty men have risen up against me,the ruthless seek my life; they set not God before their eyes.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
Behold, God is my helper; the Lord sustains my life. Freely will I offer you sacrifice; I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
Reading II Jas 3:16—4:3 Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits,without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peacefor those who cultivate peace. Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive,because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Mk 9:30-37 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them,“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him,and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them,“What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,“If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them,“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
The local large women's hospital in the paper this week is asking for volunteers to come and cuddle the neonates. It is a blessing to have children in our midst and to be with them in my view is to draw closer to God. My heart leaped and I thought I would love to do this cuddling volunteer work but unfortunately my plate is full at this time with other ministries and obligations. I was also offered another volunteee opportunity last monday to mentor an eighth grade inner city student for a program that supports young people in poverty areas from grammar school all the way through college.
I think time devoted to the young members of our local community is crucial to leading a gospel life. At this moment, I am spending the major portion of my time with college age persons as part of my ministry teaching. It is an honor and blessing to be able to be in this ministry and I am spending time discovering what the learning needs are of the people that I am working with and adjusting my plans to meet those. I believe that being responsive to questions, request and needs is key. I also have been told that believing that a teaching approach or method will work is sometimes more important than the method by one of my friends who is expert in educational psychology and theory.
Who I am is not the focus of what I do but how can I better serve those who I am ministering to now. Who I am is a believer and follower of Christ. My renewal and strengthening comes in times of prayer privately and in my religious community.
I hear in the words of Jesus today that I am not so important. My place of honor or not is not where my focus should be. My heart and mind need to be open and accepting of the children in my midst. In accepting them I am embracing God and the kingdom of God. In my heart I also extend that to young adults who are no longer children but still making that transition to adult. I need to be present to them with an open and listening heart embracing their hopes and dreams and supporting them in their struggles. I pray that I can be an instrument of God to them and help them to do good in this world.
Wis 2:12, 17-20 The wicked say: Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.
Ps 54:3-4, 5, 6 and 8 R. (6b) The Lord upholds my life.
O God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause. O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
For the haughty men have risen up against me,the ruthless seek my life; they set not God before their eyes.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
Behold, God is my helper; the Lord sustains my life. Freely will I offer you sacrifice; I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.
R. The Lord upholds my life.
Reading II Jas 3:16—4:3 Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist,there is disorder and every foul practice. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure,then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits,without inconstancy or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peacefor those who cultivate peace. Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive,because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Mk 9:30-37 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them,“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him,and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them,“What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,“If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them,“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
The local large women's hospital in the paper this week is asking for volunteers to come and cuddle the neonates. It is a blessing to have children in our midst and to be with them in my view is to draw closer to God. My heart leaped and I thought I would love to do this cuddling volunteer work but unfortunately my plate is full at this time with other ministries and obligations. I was also offered another volunteee opportunity last monday to mentor an eighth grade inner city student for a program that supports young people in poverty areas from grammar school all the way through college.
I think time devoted to the young members of our local community is crucial to leading a gospel life. At this moment, I am spending the major portion of my time with college age persons as part of my ministry teaching. It is an honor and blessing to be able to be in this ministry and I am spending time discovering what the learning needs are of the people that I am working with and adjusting my plans to meet those. I believe that being responsive to questions, request and needs is key. I also have been told that believing that a teaching approach or method will work is sometimes more important than the method by one of my friends who is expert in educational psychology and theory.
Who I am is not the focus of what I do but how can I better serve those who I am ministering to now. Who I am is a believer and follower of Christ. My renewal and strengthening comes in times of prayer privately and in my religious community.
I hear in the words of Jesus today that I am not so important. My place of honor or not is not where my focus should be. My heart and mind need to be open and accepting of the children in my midst. In accepting them I am embracing God and the kingdom of God. In my heart I also extend that to young adults who are no longer children but still making that transition to adult. I need to be present to them with an open and listening heart embracing their hopes and dreams and supporting them in their struggles. I pray that I can be an instrument of God to them and help them to do good in this world.
posted by Joan Morris at 9:05 AM
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