Walking with Jesus: 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time B

For Sunday, June 9, 2024

Genesis 3:9-15, 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1, Mark 3:20-35

A little history to situate the readings:

• After the Christmas season, specifically Jan. 7, we celebrated the Epiphany of the Lord. The next weekend, Jan. 14-15, we celebrated the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. You might ask: What happened to the First Sunday in Ordinary Time? Actually, the first segment of Ordinary Time, or Part I, began this year on the feast of the Epiphany (which was Jan. 7) and CONTINUED for five more Sundays until Lent.
• This period of Ordinary time is really an interlude between seasons: Christmas is behind us, and in a few weeks we begin Lent. The readings invite us to reflect on various aspects of our discipleship — God calling us to BE HIS PEOPLE to those in our lives who need us. How do we respond to these “calls” and “invites?”
• Ordinary Time - Part II begins today, June 9, when we celebrate the 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time. If you're trying to be a math major and figure out the counting and what happened to the ninth Sunday, my best advice is don’t try.
• So let's look at this not from a mathematical perspective but from what the readings are bringing us and what they are teaching us about our God, our journey to heaven, and the reason we were created. So we reflect on loving God — knowing His love for each of us and His promise of heaven to all who believe by following the commandments, especially the commandments of love for all those He places in our lives to be love and show God’s love.

Ordinary Time is just that: ordinary time. The readings for this period treat aspects of life that meet us day in and day out. They are really responding to our inner questions: OK, let’s get practical: What does this mean to me today? What’s God message and how do I live it? Give me something I can hang onto today so I can get closer to God and those He places in my life, especially my loved ones. There is much suffering — how am I to deal with this?

The first readings during this time are, in some ways, linked to the Gospel — yet they can also stand on their own. If just read consecutively, they show God contending with conflict or opposition. Am I the one doing the contending or disagreeing? Or does what God is saying conflict with my precious plans or hopes? Is my happiness being compromised?

Creation is all about God: He created out of love, and He’s being challenged. Note the book of Job. Job demands an explanation of why ALL THOSE horrible things have happened to him and to us. God tells Job he will not be able to understand God’s reasons, even if he's told them. Many times through the years I've been told that when one gets to heaven and asks WHY, it will all make sense … because what happened, and our living it out, worked — BECAUSE we are in heaven, asking the very question that confused us. THINK ON THIS! I have, and some enlightenment has happened. I’m still a neophyte, spending quiet time with God ... it helps!

To summarize: These first readings show that God’s patience is sorely tried. Do I trust God?

The Psalms paint a very interesting picture of humans’ response to God in their lives. We see hymns of PRAISE, a lot of asking God for Help, Mercy and Forgiveness. Angry psalms too. In the Epistles we continue to get glimpses of issues the early Christian communities faced and how they handled them. In Corinthians we learn that our ACTIONS should be motivated by the love of Christ. When they do, we are a new creation — and we can and hopefully do accept our limitations. Christ answers all. Am I listening? Christ is our peace … He overcomes all enmity. Do I realize what part of love must be lived in my life to make this a reality? Am I at peace with the Lord?

The Gospels during this Common Time teach us about who Christ is. He is the one who wields the power of the Creation … who has authority over death … who is telling us of our future with God forever and our living as Jesus lived, as He preached, and as He helped all who came to Him. Am I getting in the way of myself in my daily living with Christ?

So I reflect on:

• As I reflect on the readings, do I allow myself not to be conquered by sin?
• The readings invite me to step back and stand in awe of the loving God that is ours: Do I?

Sacred Space 2024 states:

“Jesus’ family was concerned about Him with His busy life. They thought He was misguided and wanted to restrain Him. Lord, in our busy lives we can lose our way. Help us to find a balance and the way to You.

“There are no unforgivable sins, but we can refuse to be open to or to ask for forgiveness. Lord, touch our stubborn hearts with Your gentle spirit so that we can accept your gifts.”