FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION: NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR

FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION:

NINETEENTH WEEK OF THE YEAR

Weekday readings: Matthew 17:22 to 19:15: Themes: Prediction of the passion; Jesus’ identity; be like little children; the Father’s desire to save all; community interaction; power and prayer; unrestricted forgiveness; marital commitment; children’s openness to the Kingdom.

Invitation:

To be totally open to God and others in faith, forgiveness and love.

Our faith: How many of these statements do you believe? And live?

Matthew 17:22-27: God’s way of saving the world is beyond human comprehension. When we, as ministers, speak the truth of God to others, we should be aware that what we say is infinitely beyond our understanding or expression of it.

Matthew 18:1-14: Children have not yet learned their culture’s “creed and code” enough to be closed up by it. So they are open to the shocking word of God. As we grow into cultural conformism, however, we may reject God’s way.

Matthew 18:15-20: Our life is in the image of the Trinity, “an eternal exchange of love.” Jesus teaches us to repair divisions immediately, by talking things out peacefully and on equal terms

Matthew 18:21 to 19:1: Jesus wants us to forgive one another as God forgives us —  unreservedly and inexhaustibly. If we do not, we will never be at peace.

Matthew 19:3-12: Christian marriage is a covenant like that of God with his Bride, the Church. Marriage is mutual ministry — sustained by self-giving, in love characterized by the “fruit of the Spirit.”

Matthew 19:13-15: The younger we are, the more we approach being pure “capacity for response.” To accept “life to the full” we have to remain open to everything God says and offers.

Decisions:

Speak to others words received from God and tasted in prayer, aware of their inadequacy.

Build community through truth sought and shared in unconditional love.

As a “priest in the Priest,” offer yourself as “victim in the Victim” instead of attacking others as avenger.