Good News ReflectionFOR NEXT SUNDAY: July 5, 200914th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B
Parish bulletins, faith-sharing groups, RCIA: For professionally published, printable copies of this reflection, please go to Catholic Digital Resources:http://catholicdr.com/calendar/July/14thB.htm
Next Sunday's Readings:Ezek 2:2-5Ps 123:1-42 Cor 12:7-10Mark 6:1-6http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/070509.shtmlAudio: http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_07_05.mp3
In next Sunday's Gospel reading, we see the painful truth of what happens when we share our faith with those who knew us before we became so strong in our faith.
Like Jesus, we are rejected, misunderstood, and disbelieved by people who don't understand why we changed. They feel threatened by our example; they don't want to consider their own need to change. We sound like fanatics to them, and they use this as an excuse to remain uninfluenced by our testimony.
Jesus changed after he quit living an ordinary life in an ordinary town with an ordinary job to begin a ministry that would instigate persecution, and he invited everyone else to follow his example. How crazy does that sound?
Making matters worse, he was now spending all of his time trying to change the status quo of everyone's normal life and their normal ways of relating to others and their normal attitudes about religion — even affecting the status quo of those who did not want to follow him and become like him.
People don't like to be challenged, especially when it means giving up what's familiar and comfortable. However, this is not a reason for us to keep silent. We have been called by Christ to share the good news about him. We must make it known that conversion is important, or else we are sinning against him and against those who need to learn more about him.
We fulfill this mission by sharing our personal conversion stories and our spiritual insights, as long as we do this as an invitation rather than by demanding that others change.
If you're being rejected because of this, remember that Jesus understands how you feel. Let the sting of their rejection be replaced by an awareness that God is very pleased with you.
Questions for Personal Reflection:In what ways has Jesus changed your life? Who are the people that misunderstand these changes? Now list those who do understand you: What can you do to enjoy their company more often?
Questions for Community Faith Sharing:When have you been rejected because of your spiritual growth? What have you learned about how to lovingly respond to their objections? What are your frustrations in doing this? Have you ever walked away like Jesus did when he left his hometown?
STARTING ON MONDAY, if you're a member of the "Emmaus Journey" e-group, share your answers by writing to EmmausJourney@gnm.org* To join and become a member, go to: http://gogoodnews.net/GNMcommunities/EmmausJourney/
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaFor PERMISSION to copy any of my reflections, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
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