Good News Reflection
FOR NEXT SUNDAY: November 14, 2010
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA:
For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection,
please go to Catholic Digital Resources:
http://catholicdr.com/calendar/November/33rdC.htm - Preview a sample
Next Sunday's Readings:
Mal 3:19-20a
Ps 98:5-9
2 Thess 3:7-12
Luke 21:5-19
http://www.usccb.org/nab/111410.shtml
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/10_11_14.mp3
In next Sunday's Gospel reading, Jesus says that the day will come when not one stone of the temple will be left mortared to another, because it will all be torn down. He's reminding us that everything here on earth is temporary.
What do you enjoy here on this earth? It's temporary. What causes you to suffer? It's temporary. What of this world do you depend on? It's temporary. What do you admire, trust, save, hope for, plan for, spend working hours to achieve, and spend relaxation hours as a reward? It's all temporary – unless we are using it for the Kingdom of God.
We know that we're supposed to focus on the things of God, things that will last for all of eternity, but we don't like the blind faith that this requires. We are like the disciples who looked for God's vindication against injustices and immorality in the temporal world: wars, earthquakes, plagues and famines. We wish that Jesus would hurry up with his Second Coming and stop all the evils and hardships.
In our daily lives, we seek God's help, but we look for something concrete upon which to base our faith. We want to know the future; we don't like the insecurity of not knowing what God has planned. We want to depend on what we see, rather than depend on God whom we cannot see, so we ask God to give us signs.
However, the best way to walk forward with God is to raise one foot in air, preparing to take the next step, and – while that foot is still in the air – ask God: "Where do You want me to place my foot next?"
This takes balance; if we don't remain centered in God, we teeter and fall. If God doesn't show us immediately where to put our foot down to move forward, we either fall away or we fall into his hand.
God's hand is never temporary! God's hand provides true security based only on his endless, all-powerful, all-knowing love. It doesn't always feel that way, but his love and protection never fail.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
What help from God are you currently waiting for? What wars and insurrections are plaguing your life? Do you realize that your problem temporary or do you fear that it's permanent? What will you do this week to entrust yourself to the wisdom and guidance of Jesus?
Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
When waiting for God's guidance, how do you stay centered on God? How do you find and hold your balance while you've got one foot wavering in the air. What if you were to put your foot down in the wrong place and move in the wrong direction? Does God protect you then? How?
© 2010 by Terry A. Modica
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