Book Reviews and More: Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2018

Sunday, 10 June 2018

Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2018

Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time 2018

The readings for this weekend's mass are:

First Reading Genesis 3:8-15
Responsorial Psalm 130:1-8 Response 7b
Second Reading 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Gospel Mark 3:20-35

I have read these reading a few times this week. And to be honest I am coming up flat for some thoughts worth sharing. So, in a free writing exercise, off the cuff, here are my thoughts.

From the first reason, I think back on my own life. How many times have I been caught either in a mistake, or a lie, or an indiscretion. Do I own up to it? Do I pass the buck? Do I play the blame game? I also see the same with my children, so often they want to blame someone else rather than take ownership of mistakes, confess and then move on. Today we still live with consequences of the sins of Adam and Eve, and even generational sins in our family lines. But fortunately for us, the fall is not the end of the story.

The response today is:

"With the Lord there is steadfast love, and great power to redeem"

That is the central message of the gospel. God has come to redeem, and he does so because of his great live for us. The whole focus in the responsorial psalm today is that redemption.

"Out of the depth I cry to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.

I wait for the Lord,
my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning.

For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him there is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities."

The response today made me think about this quote from Douglas Coupland's Life After God, the older I get the truer these words ring for me.

"Now -- here is my secret:
I tell it to you with an openness of heart I doubt I shall ever achieve again, so I pray that you are in a quiet room as you hear these words. My secret is that I need God - that I am sick and can no longer make it alone. I need God to help me give, because I no longer seem capable of giving; to help me to be kind, as I no longer seem capable of kindness; to help me love, as I seem beyond able to love."

I need God, I Need God, I NEED GOD! That is the most honest statement I can make, today or any day. And the more responsibilities I have in life, the more I need God. When I became a husband, I need more of God to love and serve my wife. When I became a father, I needed still more of God. With a child facing two surgeries on his neck and spine this year, I need God.

The second reading reminds us that life here is temporary. That are lives here are preparation for the here after. We are living to spend life in eternity with God. And the final words from the gospel tie into that theme:

"Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

And as I pray often that my actions live up to my theology. I pray that I do the will of God, at work, at home, at play. And I pray for you my readers that you will grow in Christ Jesus and live for eternal rewards.