Time to Build

Readings for Sunday March 6, 2011

Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Never forget Christopher Reeve.

He played Superman in movies. He was wealthy, popular, attractive, and fit. Then one day he broke his neck riding a horse, and he could no longer use his arms or legs.
But that didn’t ruin him. In fact, his life seemed to take on a new meaning as he worked endlessly for a cure to paralysis. This man, who could move only a few muscles, changed the lives of millions by raising money to fight paralysis.

Ironically, he became a real “superman” after his body broke down.

This week Jesus talks about life’s harsh realities. Do not count on your popularity, academic success, or physical talents to make your life meaningful. As Christopher Reeve discovered, it all can change in an instant. Life is full of storms. You will fail. You will experience loneliness. You will get older. Your body will break down.

Then where will you turn? Thanks to God, we have a rock for security during those storms. He is Jesus, the Christ. Because of him, we can find a meaningful life regardless of the storms that hit us, just as Christopher reeve did. That is good news, but it is also a warning. As a teen, you set your priorities and develop habits for living. Build your house on a rock by developing Christian habits.

Pray daily. Learn to lengthen your daily prayer time. Join a Christian group (Like St. Mike’s Bible study) where people know you and are there for you in tough times. Regularly serve those who suffer. It will remind you of how much you can offer regardless of your success, beauty, wealth, or popularity. Learn to forgive and apologize. That will build you a circle of faithful friends.

Build your solid foundation now. The storms will come.

Gospel connection for teens, Fr Corey Brost

Reading 1 Deuteronomy 11:18, 26-28, 32

18 Moses told the people “Take these words of mine into your heart and soul. Bind them at your wrist as a sign, and let them be a pendant on your forehead. 26 “I set before you here, this day, a blessing and a curse: 27 a blessing for obeying the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today;
28 a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, but turn aside from the way I ordain for you today, to follow other gods, whom you have not known.” 32 be careful to observe all the statutes and decrees that I set before you today.

Question for discussion:

In the first reading, Moses offers the people a choice of a blessing or a curse – “a blessing for obeying the commandments of the Lord . . . a curse if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 11:26-27). How would you describe the blessings and curses that come from obeying and disobeying God’s commandments?

Reading 2 Romans 3:21-25, 28

21 Brothers and sisters, now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets, 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction; 23 all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. 24 They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as an expiation, through faith, by his blood. 28 For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Question for discussion:

St. Paul tells us in the second reading that “a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law” (Romans 3:28). However James tells us that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). How would you reconcile these two Scripture passages? What are the things in your life that tend to weaken your faith? What are the things in your life that strengthen your faith? How can you decrease the former, while increasing the latter?

Gospel Matthew 7:21-27

21 Jesus said to his disciples: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day,
‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’ 24 “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

Questions for discussion:

1. In the Gospel, Jesus says that “everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand.” Why is this so?

2. What are the foundations – the basic beliefs, values, and habits – that you are building in your life? 3.

3. So what kind of blessings can we expect? One is the knowledge of his unconditional love for us. Who are we that God would love us?

IHN tommyk, enjoy the readings, pass them on! http://tommykawas.blogspot.com/