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Appleton, WI

Aug 30 Homily Connect: Discipleship

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Aug. 30, 2020

JER 20:7-9   ROM 12:1-2   MT 16:21-27

Scripture

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Today’s Question

  • What comes to mind when you hear the word discipleship?

The Story of Glen Cunningham

  • An 8 year old whose legs were badly burned in a fire
  • Doctors said he would never walk
  • His determination helped him to win a gold medal in the 1936 Olympics as a miler
  • He and wife Ruth devoted their lives to helping troubled young people
  • Why? Because not many were doing it.  They were disciples.

Today’s Gospel and Christian Discipleship

  • Demands self-control, willingness to suffer, readiness to follow Jesus
  • Requires compassion, humility, patience, forgiveness
  • Calls us to be loving, to be faithful and committed

Our Everyday Discipleship Questions

  • Did I exercise self-control with my words, social media, technology, addictions?
  • Did I help someone in need with kindness and generosity?
  • Did I put my embarrassment aside and share my faith?
  • Did I express my gratitude for my blessings?
  • Was my day Faith focused or self-focused?

Discipleship is a Verb – We are Called Through our Baptism

  • St. Mary Parish is focusing on discipleship for all ages in our new Beacon Ministries
  • Not so much on learning about Jesus with our minds but experience him in our heart
  • Become HIS disciple
  • Live discipleship boldly each day

We are a Eucharistic People-Let us Pray

  • That Satan will get behind us-That we are not duped
  • That we will not conform to a secular world-that prevents us from discipleship
  • That we will accept Jesus’s invitation to deny ourselves
  • That we will chose to walk in his footsteps

Questions for Reflection

  • What impacted you from today’s Gospel and/or homily?
  • Did I exercise self-control with my words, social media, technology, addictions?
  • Did I help someone in need with kindness and generosity?
  • Did I put my embarrassment aside and share my faith?
  • Did I express my gratitude for my blessings?
  • Was my day Faith focused or self-focused?
  • Will I walk in the footsteps of Jesus

Live Connected

  • Be intentional!  Make plan for the next week to live as a follower of Jesus. What will be the discipleship verbs in your plan?