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Word To Life
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Sunday Scripture Readings, Sept. 13, 2009
By Jean Denton
Catholic News Service
September 13, Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Cycle B Readings:
1) Isaiah 50:5-9a
Psalm 116:1-6, 8-9
2) James 2:14-18
Gospel: Mark 8:27-35
I had to practically sit on my hands to keep from sending a check. My grown daughter had just been laid off from her job at the same time her apartment lease was up and her roommate moved away. She called "to vent," she said, but she wasn't asking for financial help.
Nevertheless, throughout her brief lament I kept thinking it wouldn't faze my bank account to send a little money, and it would ease her burden considerably. Just a slight boost to buy her a little time would save a lot of stress. She'd pay it back later, and I wanted to think the pain and worry, really, weren't necessary.
Of course, I simply didn't want her to have to suffer -- even a little bit -- if I could help it.
Luckily a cooler head prevailed: hers.
"Don't worry, Mom," she assured me. "It's annoying. But I'll figure it out. I'll be fine."
Sure enough, after months and months of temporary employment, several unsatisfactory living arrangements and a meager pantry, things worked out. In the meantime, she was fine.
She understood that struggle is a necessary part of life, and through it she learned a great deal about the strength and gifts with which God had endowed her. Also, she experienced God's grace through helpful, loving friends and found joy even while enduring difficulty.
She more than survived. She grew -- beyond what she could have if I had intervened to "save" her from discomfort.
In this weekend's Gospel, Peter tells Jesus that he knows he is the Christ. He knows he was endowed by God to bring salvation. But in his human heart Peter didn't want his loved one to have to suffer. For a brief moment Peter forgot to believe in God's almighty ability to overcome the suffering and anguish of this world.
Jesus set him straight, saying, in effect, "I'll be fine." Then he told his disciples that to follow him they too must endure necessary hardship with trust that God will save them and give them a life greater than the one they will surely lose in the process.
QUESTIONS:
When have you had to stand by and watch a loved one endure hardship in order to grow in strength and spirit? How did you witness God's grace in the process?
SCRIPTURE TO BE ILLUSTRATED:
"You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do" (Mark 8:33).
END
Copyright © 2009 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS Word To Life column may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service.
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