taken this sunday evening

 

taken this sunday

 

taken this week in our garden

 

Sept 24 2006

Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Prv 3:27-34 Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim when it is in your power to do it for him. Say not to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,tomorrow I will give,” when you can give at once. Plot no evil against your neighbor, against one who lives at peace with you. Quarrel not with a man without cause, with one who has done you no harm. Envy not the lawless man and choose none of his ways: To the LORD the perverse one is an abomination, but with the upright is his friendship. The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but the dwelling of the just he blesses; When dealing with the arrogant, he is stern, but to the humble he shows kindness.

Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5 R. (1) The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;who thinks the truth in his heartand slanders not with his tongue.
R. The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; By whom the reprobate is despised,while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.
Who lends not his money at usuryand accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these thingsshall never be disturbed.
R. The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.

Lk 8:16-18 Jesus said to the crowd: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vesselor sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”

The first reading teaches to do good and not turn anyone away if they have asked for some good to be done that is within my capabilities. I have had lapses of not realizing in the moment that a person was asking for something that was within my reach to do such as make a local call on my phone or something equally simple. At times my reaction time is slow in the moment when asked to do something that I dont regularly do.

I find it interesting the advice in the first reading to be stern with the arrogant but kind with the humble. I suppose it is not good to reward bad behavior in the case of the arrogant it could lead to problems.

I need to often be reminded to not put my light under a basket but place it out to shine. I am at times quiet and reserved about evangelizing but have had the good fortune to be surrounded with colleagues where I work who are alive in their faith and strong in it. It is a matter of gaining strength and vision from others when they let the light of their spirit and faith shine out in the open. It is a gift to be blessed with so many strong believers where I work and yet I work in a pubic, secular institution. The people there are truly dedicated to serving others and sharing and giving as their life's work. I want to dedicate monday, Sept 25, 2006 to praying in thanksgiving for the people that I am blessed to be with where I work daily. I also pray for the strength to let my heart of loving and giving myself to God be a light to others that shines not in words but in acts and works.

photo taken sept 22 2006 by Oblate Joyce W.

 

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 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 of teaching. It is an honor and blessing to be able to be in this role. 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, requests and needs is crucial. 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 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 throughout the day and in my religious community.

I hear in the words of Jesus today that I must serve others first. My place of honor 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 children, 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.

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.