22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Background: Back to Mark after several weeks of John’s “bread of life discourse,” which explored the relationship between Jesus and the individual believer. Up until this interruption we had been seeing Jesus and his disciples proclaiming in Galilee the arrival of God’s promised kingdom/reign. Galilee was predominantly Jewish but surrounded by Gentiles and by Samaritans whom the Jews regarded as heretics. The religious authorities and the ultra-observant Pharisees in Jerusalem also regarded with suspicion the practice of Judaism in Galilee, regarding the Galileans as sort of “cafeteria Jews.” Jesus now addresses this issue head-on.
As we return to Mark, we also begin reading the “Letter” of James, which is probably a collection of exhortations on how to live an authentically Christian life. Like the Pharisees, we too can get observing God’s commandments of love very wrong.
Discussion Questions
- What are you scrupulous and judgmental about?
- How has that gotten in the way of showing active love towards others?
- Which fellow-Christians make you uncomfortable? Why?
- How will you keep your heart “unspotted from the world”?
Practice: Giving of our treasure is important, but a gift often more needed is our time. Look around your family, friends, and neighbors, and discern who is lonely or even isolated, and give them the gift of your time. (Zoom counts.)
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Background: Jesus has left predominantly Jewish Galilee and is off wandering around in the surrounding Gentile territory. Yet even there he fulfills the prophecies of God’s compassionate love by curing Gentiles.
Discussion Questions
- When has God opened your eyes to Jesus’s message of healing love?
- When has God enabled you to speak that message of healing love?
- Which people in your life speak that message frequently?
- How in our Church are the poor and marginalized still treated shabbily? How do you contribute to that situation?
Practice: The “charter” of God’s kingdom/reign is the Beatitudes. Once again, this week pray over one of them each day, pondering how well you have made it a reality in your life, and in the lives of others.
The “charter” of God’s kingdom/reign is the Beatitudes. Pray over one of them each day this week, pondering how well you have made it a reality in your life, and in the lives of others.
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Background: Jesus is still out among the Gentiles but is about to turn back home so he can begin his journey to Jerusalem where he will establish God’s kingdom/reign by his death and resurrection. Yet once again his disciples have him in a box. His compassionate teaching and miracles have convinced them that he is the Messiah; yet they are still caught in their own presuppositions about how the Messiah is supposed to act. And so, Jesus corrects them in no uncertain terms.
Discussion Questions
- What kind of box do you have Jesus in?
- And so what kind of cross is he asking you to take up?
- What kind of box does our Church seem to have Jesus in?
- And so what kind of cross is Jesus asking us to take up?
Practice: “Faith without works is dead.” Giving of treasure and time is important, but what talent do you have to share with those less fortunate than you. What special gift do you have that would make your love real for others?
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Background: The next episode in Mark’s narrative is the Transfiguration, but we already read that account back in Lent. Jesus and his disciples are now back in Galilee; and, despite that event, Jesus continues to teach his uncomprehending disciples that the way to the kingdom/reign of God is through the cross; only there can we find the assurance of resurrection. Just like a little child, we must trust in the God whom Jesus taught us to call “Daddy”—especially when we are most afraid or disappointed or confused.
Discussion Questions
- When and how have you chosen to be a servant?
- What conflicted, inner cravings have kept you from embracing that role?
- What seems to be keeping our society from valuing and embracing this ideal? Especially in this time of pandemic?
- There is a difference between childish and childlike. Who is the most childlike person you know? How have they affected you and your life?
Practice: Each day this week pray the Prayer to the Sacred Heart (“O most holy Heart of Jesus”).
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Background: Once again Jesus rebukes his disciples for drawing boundaries too tightly around God’s compassionate love. God’s Spirit in some way can come to rest on any person of good will. What we need to worry about is our exclusion of others while we are blind to our own failings—especially how we scandalize others.
Discussion Questions
- Which person has been most responsible for bringing you to Christ? How did they do so?
- How has the church scandalized you and made it hard to come to Christ? Or inspired you and drawn you to him?
- How has wealth blinded our society? How can you change that situation?
- What do you need to give up if you are going to give yourself completely to the building of God’s kingdom/reign?
Practice: Every evening this week prayerfully and reflectively watch a different news channel. At the end of the week, reflect upon which one not only seemed most factual but also brought you a sense of compassion and connection with others.
