This weekend we celebrate the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time. There is nothing that makes this Sunday Celebration any more special than other Sunday celebrations, except that because it is the 30th Sunday out of 33 we know that most of the year is now past.
As you look back on this past year, how do you feel about the things that you did or didn’t accomplish?
- Has it been a good year when you did most of the things that you had planned to do at the beginning of the year?
Have you thought about how you got them done?
- Or, are you feeling frustrated because you didn’t, or couldn’t get many of the things that you had planned to do done?
- And, if you’re feeling frustrated have you asked yourself why?
If your life is anything like mine I’m sure that as you look back over the past year you can pretty easily identify times that were good… when you accomplished something that you had planned to do. AND I’m sure you can identify at least a few times when you were frustrated because things didn’t work out as you had planned or hoped they would.
You may even be able to identify some times when you were frustrated because of your own actions or behaviors toward someone else… maybe a family member.
Now, think for a minute about the times when things went all your way and times were good.
- It’s refreshing to remember those times, isn’t it!
Now, I’m going to ask you to close your eyes for a moment and think about those times when you were frustrated, and things didn’t go your way.
- Were your filled with Joy?
- Did you feel delivered?
- Did you ask yourself is there anything that you could have, or should have done differently that would have resulted in a different outcome?
As you reflect on the events in your life, both good and bad, did you ask yourself, where was God in those moments of accomplishment or frustration?
I’m sure that Bartimaeus thought about God and where He was throughout his life.
- Why else would he have asked Jesus to have pity on him?
- How, but through God’s intervention, could his sight have been restored?
It’s the Jesus question!
It’s the question that we need to be asking ourselves every day!
It’s the one question, with two parts that we need to make the center of our lives!
Okay, so I’m guessing that many, if not most of you are sitting there asking yourselves…what is the Jesus question?
You all already know the Jesus Question, you probably just can’t remember it right now. But it is THE ONE QUESTION that if we work to be sure it is always top of mind will change our lives!
It is the question that will make us look at everything that happens in our lives differently.
It is the question that will so completely change our individual relationship with Jesus and God that our lives will never be the same.
You see when you start asking yourself the Jesus question every day you will realize that although you can’t go back and fix the things that you did wrong in the past, you can’t move forward in your relationship with Jesus without Him and in His Grace… and through His Grace, you may not be perfect, you will be a better person.
So, what is the Jesus question?
It’s really quite simple…
- Where is Jesus at this moment in my life, AND will I confess that He has saved me?
No more than Bartimaues could have restored his own sight, can we go forward without a relationship with Jesus.
- Don’t hide it!
- Don’t be embarrassed by it!
And, remember to thank Him by giving of yourself to others who have not been blessed with the gifts given to you.