Find The Honor In Shame

Readings for Sunday August 28, 2011                      

22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Think of your favorite athlete: Where would he/she be without sacrifice and suffering? Odds are they would be watching sports on TV with you and me, instead of being the one on TV.  Just as they apply to sports (or the arts, or studies, or anything that requires effort), sacrifice and suffering are important to our growth in love. Sunday’s Gospel passage is a short lesson in the hard work that needs to go into love. We read that Jesus is gathered with His disciples, and they have just experienced the great power of His teaching and miracles.  

Last week we read that the Lord was going to build His Church upon St. Peter. Yet in the midst of His growing popularity and His big plans for the future, Jesus tells His disciples that He must be rejected, suffer and be killed.  Imagine the looks on the disciples’ faces when Jesus told them this shocking news: No doubt they were expecting to head down to Jerusalem for a big party, declare Jesus King, and get ready for the new world order with Jesus at the top.  Instead, Jesus was promising a tragic end to the good times they had experienced.  

Not only did He promise His own death and destruction, but He laid out an unbelievable requirement for being His follower: If you want to follow Jesus, you have to be ready to die as well.   Wasn’t Jesus thinking about a potential negative image for the religion He was founding?  Didn’t He understand the importance of presenting an exciting message in marketing His program? These strong demands of discipleship show us that Jesus’ first concern was not in making people feel good: Jesus’ first concern is for you and I to grow in love and holiness.  

This Gospel shows us that Jesus’ ways are not the ways of the world. The world looks for immediate satisfaction and quick pleasure: Jesus looks for long-term joy and love. Jesus challenges us to look to heaven as our place of true longing and fulfillment. So don’t allow the fear of suffering and death to hold you back from Jesus, and don’t allow yourself to avoid life’s struggles by running away from them. May we have the grace to trust Jesus with our entire lives by dying to ourselves and allowing Him to bring us to new life.        Summary of the Gospel from YM Ministries

The first reading is taken from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 20:7-9 in which we hear Jeremiah giving voice to this internal anguish of mind; he hates what he has to say to his people, yet he is compelled by God to say it.

First Reading                Jeremiah 20: 7-9

7 You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me. 8 Whenever I speak, I must cry out, violence and outrage is my message; the word of the LORD has brought me derision and reproach all the day. 9 I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.
Question’s for discussion:

1. Why doesn’t God answer Jeremiah’s outburst?
2. Have you ever done the right thing and then suffered for it? How did it make you feel? What did you say to God?
   
   

The second reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 12:1-2 in which he tells the Roman Christians (converts, for the most part, from paganism) that they must prove themselves worthy of this great favor, they must live truly Christian lives.

Second Reading           Romans 12:1-2

1 I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. 2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

Questions for discussion:

1. As a young man or woman, how does peer pressure affect the way you dress? How you act?
2. Are you using your gifts in a way that is “Holy and pleasing to God” (v 1)?
   
   
3. What holds you back from using your gifts more fully?
   
   

The Gospel is from Matthew 16:21-27. From all eternity this was God's plan for mankind. But because sin had entered into the world before the Incarnation took place, the Son of God in his human nature had to suffer the violent death of the cross at the hands of sinners. In this very suffering he became the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world, as the second-Isaiah had foretold in his "suffering servant" prophecies (Isaiah. 53: 1-7; 42: 1-9 etc). His death, because he was God as well as man, was a sacrifice, an atonement, of infinite value, and therefore obtained forgiveness from the Father for all the sins of the human race.

Gospel                Matthew 16:21-27

21 Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. 22 Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” 23 He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay all according to his conduct.”

Questions for discussion:

1. How do you think St. Peter reacted to being called ‘satan’?  Describe. Why did Jesus decide to speak so strongly to St. Peter?
2. What kind of Messiah was Peter expecting?

3. What does this question mean to you: What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?
4. How does a Christian forfeit his life? What might tempt you to lose your life or exchange your soul?
5. What scares you the most about taking up your cross? Describe. Do you trust that Jesus will bring you to new life if you die to yourself? Why/Why not?
                                                                                                                                   God Bless you all IHN tommy
   
   
   

This Week Be A Rock For The Church

Readings for Sunday August 21st 2011                                   

21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time  

        The thought that we could advise the Almighty God! Yet, how often we try to do so? We make demands! We complain about our circumstances. We grumble about our appearance. In each case our grumbling implies that God does not know what He is doing. When we complain in this way we are actually trying to give God advice!!  Think about how aggravating it is when someone preaches with great authority about something that we know they know nothing about. That must be the way God feels when we try to give him advice. Our perspective is limited. God sees clearly. How often do we complain about the rules set up by our parents, we feel victimized but don’t realize that our parents have actually set up these boundaries to protect and enrich our lives. God doesn’t need our advice. He is an expert on every issue. He understands everything better than we do. Everything. Our job is to trust and to follow.

                                                                        

First  Reading                        Isaiah 22:19-23

19 Thus says the LORD to Shebna, master of the palace: “I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. 20 On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; 21 I will clothe him with your robe, and gird him with your sash, and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. 22  I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim’s shoulder; what he opens, no one will shut what he shuts, no one will open. 23 I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family.”

Questions for discussion:

1.   What leadership positions do you have? When if ever have you acted like a Shebna in that position?

2.   Have you ever abused a position of authority?

3.   How did God deal with Shebna’s egocentric leadership?

4.   In spite of Eliakim’s good leadership, what will ultimately happen?

This reading presupposes that everyone -Kings, officials and each one of us serve at God’s pleasure and that he alone gives us our power and authority on earth.


Second Reading                Romans 11:33-36

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! 34 For who has known the mind of the Lord
or who has been his counselor? 35 Or who has given the Lord anything that he may be repaid? 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.


Questions for discussion:

1. 
   
2. Who Can Give God Advice? The very question is absurd, is it not?

    What do you feel after reading this following skit?

Harry:  Hi, Carl. Just calling to say hello. 

Carl:  Oh, Harry. I think the last time I ran into you was at the church some time back.

Harry:  Yes, as you know, my family has been having a really tough time lately. I thought it might help to chat with someone I have known a long time—like you.

Carl:  What did you say? I was busy looking at the golf tournament on TV. 

Harry:  Have you been golfing lately?

Carl: Yes, but I decided to quit calling people like you who play so lousy.

Harry: Yes, my game could improve. As I said, my family has been. . . .

Carl: No, you will probably get worse as you get older. Maybe you should find some new people to play with. Nobody I know wants to play with you. 

Harry: Carl, it sort of hurts to hear you say that. You used to say you loved me like a brother. 

Carl: I still love you. Wait a second! Tiger Woods is giving an interview!  Did you say I hurt your feelings? I just believe in being truthful with people; that’s how I’m wiser than most. Speaking of golf, a guy cheated me the other day during a round. I can’t wait to find a way to pay him back for that!

Gospel reading                  Matthew 16:13-20

13 Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,  still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

Questions for Discussion:

1.   Who do you say that the Son of Man is?

2.   If you had two minutes to talk on television about Jesus and you could say anything you wanted, what would you say?

3.   How would you answer if someone asked you to describe Jesus?

4.   How does a Christian forfeit his life? What might tempt people to lose their life or exchange their soul?

Would You Pass the Test?

Readings for Sunday August 14^th 2011                                                                       

  20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

How far would you be willing to go to show Jesus that you really had faith in Him?  Our Gospel reading this Sunday does just that – it challenges all of us to put our ‘money where our mouth is’ and trust Jesus with every situation in our life.  St. Matthew begins this passage by commenting how Jesus had pulled back from His ministry in Israel (perhaps to get a break from all the attention He was receiving).  He is approached by a Canaanite (non-Jewish) woman who has a daughter that is being tormented by a demon.

 The key to this passage is to understand that this meeting with the Lord is a test of the woman’s faith.  Some Scripture teachers of our day have mistakenly thought that this woman changed Jesus’ mission, directing it towards the Gentiles (non-Jews) as a result of this their encounter.  These scholars believe that Jesus really didn’t know Himself or what He was trying to do.  Yet, being God, Jesus knew full well His mission (which, after His death and Resurrection, was to be directed to the entire world through the Church) and didn’t need this woman to define it.  

Rather, Jesus uses this woman to show what the Gentiles could have – and what the people of Israel should want to have.  She must have loved her daughter deeply, and no doubt was feeling like she was at the end of the line in trying to find a cure for her. We don’t know exactly how the demon tormented her: Obviously it was painful.  The woman approaches Jesus to get Him to heal her daughter, and He gives her no reply.  Why did He give her the cold shoulder?  She stays so persistent that the disciples begin to get annoyed by her, and want Jesus to get rid of her.  

Jesus then continues to test her faith by telling her that His mission is only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  Was Jesus lying?  No…but He was speaking a half-truth.  While His mission while He was on earth was to Israel, we know that His mission of salvation extended to the Gentiles after His Ascension.  The woman seems to give a response of ‘so what?’ to Jesus.  He tries to tell her that what Israel has in Him shouldn’t just be wasted on people who can’t appreciate it.  It was His way of saying, ‘you couldn’t handle what I have here even if I gave it to you’.

Does the woman give up?  No! She tells Jesus that the rest of the world would love the ‘scraps’ that Israel has been given, that the Gentiles need Christ as much as the people of Israel do.  Jesus rewards this woman’s faith by healing her daughter.  Obviously, the disciples who listened to this conversation would have been struck by the forcefulness of this woman with the Lord.  She didn’t hold back from Him, but took the effort to get close to Him.  Jesus calls us all of us to this kind of faith, a faith that looks for the love of the Savior, even in difficult situations.  May we have the grace to be persistent in our faith so that God can work miracles of love in our lives.                       Summary of the Gospel by YM Central

Reading 1 Is 56:1, 6-7

1 Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed. 2 The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering to him, loving the name of the LORD, and becoming his servants- all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, 3 them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

Questions for Discussion:

 In the first reading, Isaiah says, “Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.”  What do you think this means? How does it apply to you?

Also Isaiah speaks of the all-inclusiveness of God’s love; all peoples are welcome in God’s house.  Who are the people you exclude from your love or God’s love? What steps can you take to change that? Take some time now to pray for these people.

Reading 2 Rom 11:13-15, 29-32

13 Brothers and sisters: I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry 14 in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 29 For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32 For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.

Questions for Discussion:

1. “The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.” According to St. Paul’s statement, will God ever change God’s mind and stop loving you? “Even if we are faithless he is faithful, because he cannot deny himself.” (2 Tim. 2:13) Explain this quote in the light of the first quote.

2. What are the implications of these scripture passages for you?

Gospel Mt 15:21-28

21 At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." 23 But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus' disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us." 24 He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." 28 Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And the woman's daughter was healed from that hour.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Describe the disciples’ reaction to the woman’s persistence with Jesus by examining both what is written in the text and how you think the disciples would have reacted that is not in the passage.

2. Have you ever tried to get rid of someone who is annoying you, when in reality they really needed you to be Christ to them?  If so, describe.  Which kind of people do you find most annoying and why?  What can you do better be Christ to them?

3. What virtues did the Canaanite woman possess that got Jesus to answer her request? What is it about her statement, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” that made Jesus change his mind and grant her request to heal her daughter? Do you think he could have received an insight about his mission from his Father during this conversation?

4.  This woman’s faith broke through some barriers that excluded certain people. What inclusion blockades do you see today that you think need to be broken through?

5.  Has Jesus ever tested you to get you to be more persistent in your faith?  Describe.

Careful What You Reach For

Readings for Sunday August 7th, 2011                                           

This Sunday’s Gospel passage picks up after last week’s miraculous feeding of approximately 20,000 people.  Obviously, this miracle had a big impact on the people, so Jesus found Himself surrounded by the crowds.  In the midst of this immense popularity, and incredible demands on His time, Jesus takes time to get away alone by Himself to pray to His heavenly Father.  This is no small side-story in this reading, for it is an important lesson to those of us who are busier than we should be: There is never an excuse to put prayer on the back-burner.  Intimacy with our heavenly Father is our life-line to a happy existence.  While Jesus is in prayer, the disciples find themselves on a boat in a rough storm.  This event becomes an opportunity for Jesus to reveal more of His identity to the disciples.  Of course, they all knew Jesus was a great guy, yet over the period of His three-year ministry, Jesus slowly unveiled to them that He was more than just a nice guy: He is the Second Person of the Trinity.  The disciples see Jesus walk to them on the water.  This is another reference to the supernatural identity of Jesus.  He wasn’t using the latest Hollywood special effects, but was rather doing something that no one could do on their own power.  To prove that this was supernatural, St. Peter begins to walk on the water as well – only to find himself sinking.  (How many times in our lives do we find ourselves ‘sinking’ after we take our eyes off Jesus?) St. Peter did not have the power on his own to go beyond nature, yet our Gospel passage reinforces to us Jesus’ power over everything, including nature.  The question for all of us is: Are we willing to trust in Him with even the little areas in our lives?  Are we willing to allow Him to bring good to us, even if that means we go through difficult times?  So often we don’t trust that Jesus will bring true good to us.  We often think that we can handle it on our own, yet like St. Peter, we start to sink.  We need to proclaim to Jesus with our entire lives that, ‘truly, you are the Son of God’.  May God grant us the grace to trust Jesus in every situation we find ourselves, no matter how difficult the ‘storm’ of life is around us.           Summary of the Gospel from YM Central

 First Reading             1 Kings 19: 9a 11-13a  

  
9a There he came to a cave, where he took shelter. 11Then the LORD said, "Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by." A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD--but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake--but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was fire--but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. 13a When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. 

What impresses you most about this story?

• God's incredible power
• God's love and patience
• that a man of God like Elijah could feel such pain and rejection

 Why do you think Elijah ran away?

•  He wasn't ready for another fight.
• Jezebel was furious about what he did.
• Ahab's troops outnumbered his.

Why do you suppose Elijah prayed to die?

• He was afraid
• He was depressed
• He was totally drained
• He was full of self pity
• He felt all alone and unsupported

What do you think Elijah needed the most?

• Physical replenishment
• some peace and quiet
• a spiritual retreat
• an attitude adjustment
• some answers about life
• fellowship with other believers
• a fresh vision of God

 What do think god was saying to Elijah through the tiny whisper and the message of verses 15-18?

• "Your ministry is far from over."
• "Trust me."
• "Stop moping and get moving."
• "You're not alone." 

 When you have felt like you couldn't go any further in life? What got you so discouraged? What got you going again?

What has been discouraging in your life lately?  

When you feel drained by the pressures or injustices of life, what do you do?  Is there any action you can take to find God? Or do you have to wait for God to call you out of your "cave"?

How is God trying to communicate to you right now? What's the message of the "tiny whisper"?

 Second Reading                                 Romans 9: 1-5

 1 I speak the truth in Christ, I do not lie; my conscience joins with the holy Spirit in bearing me witness 2 that I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and separated from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kin according to the flesh. 4 They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever. Amen.

How should each of the benefits Paul mentions in verses 4-5 have drawn the Jewish people to Christ?

 How deeply do you hurt for unbelievers?  As much as Paul?

 If you were God would you choose "you" to be part of your plan for the universe? 

Gospel Reading-   Matthew 14: 22-33 

 22Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. 27 At once (Jesus) spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." 28 Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29 He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw how (strong) the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32 After they got into the boat, the wind died down. 33  Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."

1. Describe the disciples’ reaction to Jesus walking on the water.  Why do you think they were so afraid?  Describe Peter’s reaction.  Why didn’t Jesus just reveal His full divinity to the disciples all at once – why does He show a little bit over time?

2. Do you ever doubt that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He loves you and has control of your life?  What has He done to show you that He is in control?  Describe a real-life situation.

3. What excuses do you give for not spending quality time in prayer?  Why do you give those excuses?

4. Of all your adventures in life, which was the most daring? Explain?

5. Why do you think Jesus wanted to pray alone? 

6. What do Peter's actions reveal about his personality?

7. Why do you think Peter ask Jesus to call to him?

8. When did Peter begin to sink? Why then and not earlier?

9. Would you be more likely to stay in the boat or step out of it? Why? 

10. What Dreams do you have for the future? What risk are involved?

Enjoy the readings, please pass them on…..