#mymasstakeaway 23rd Sunday in ordinary time

Today’s the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Find the Mass Readings here: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 10, 2017

My takeaway:

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#mymasstakeaway "When the truth is spoken an invitation is given." . I don't like to be corrected. I'm proud and want others to think well of me. Correction makes me feel defensive, and like I've let myself down. . I don't like when the ugly truth about myself stares me in the face. I know I need to work hard to let the Holy Spirit in, to seek improvement, to pursue holiness. . I have to battle the prideful instinct to feel under attack. . And I have to try to remember the hurt I feel myself when I endeavor to correct others. . I have to strive to reach out with invitation, not with reproach. I need to correct with love. I must try to find common ground first. Identify truths that we agree on and use that to establish connection. . Then I must proceed with love and compassion. I must do my best to understand where the other person is coming from. Are they speaking from hurt? Have they been raised with a different religious upbringing? . And I must try to remember that all I can do is share my own experience, my own understanding, and invite others to see the beauty and goodness of the truth. . Then it's all up to God. I can't force anyone to believe the truth, to agree with me, or to seek change. . Today let's pray for the grace to give and receive correction charitably. . Lord please humble us to desire to become the best version of ourselves we can be. To seek holiness and perfection wholeheartedly. To accept correction meekly and with gratitude. And if we ever need to correct our brothers and sisters, give us gentleness and charity. Help us present the truth with love and kindness. Open our lips to speak the words they need to great, and open their heaters to receive Your truth. . Amen. . #mysundaybest with @rosiehill425

A post shared by Sara Estabrooks (@tojesussincerely) on Sep 10, 2017 at 7:29am PDT

Thoughts from my blogging friends:

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Come with me against the traffic, against the current of the culture, against the comfortable logic of this world, and so it is in most of things Jesus teaches us: "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" Matthew 16: 21-27 This past Sunday's readings and our new priest's homily was very cool again: What crazy world is Jesus talking about!? Where losing is finding and finding is losing? Losing for the sake of Christ where the true grace is found- He calls us to find ourselves by losing ourselves, and to this world it makes no sense. Do not be conformed to this age. Following Jesus involves a Transformation of Heart and mind. GO against the current of the culture where greed and comfort is replaced by sacrifice. Be OPEN, be transformed by reading God's word, His living word, let it INFORM and TRANSFORM! I thought this was very cool! . . #MyMasstakeaway #thewordofgod #drawclosertogod #lovegod #godinspired #openjourney #religiousart #christianart #catholicartist #catholicart #catholic #matthew16 #biblejournaling #faith #faithjournal #art #journaling #ingridblixt #TB2G

A post shared by Ingrid Blixt (@ingridblixt) on Sep 5, 2017 at 12:58pm PDT

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Ok. I'm going to vent for a minute. Forgive me. You know one thing that most seriously displeases me about being Catholic? The perception that we are all about antiquated rules and not about love. • The sad thing is that we all know people who lend credence to those claims (and are guilty ourselves!). We talk SO much about what people should NOT be doing, how people should NOT be living. Where is the loud, joyful noise that sees the GOOD in who people are? Where are the hands and feet and hearts outstretched loving our neighbors despite their flaws? • If there is one thing the recent hurricanes have shown, it is that the good work, the work of love is there, but it is quiet until under distress. Maybe it's time to stop that. Maybe it is time for us to start a revolution of love that shouts from rooftops – LOVE IS HERE! • We talk about God being love and love demanding sacrifice and obedience, but we fail to form the relationships that make that possible. Let's do this. Let's love our neighbors. Heck, let's begin by even KNOWING our neighbors. One of our church documents starts by reminding us that the joys and sorrows of the world are OUR joys and sorrows. Let's make that real, y'all. Less lecturing, more loving, okay? Who's with me? ❤️

A post shared by Rakhi McCormick (@rakstardesigns) on Sep 10, 2017 at 5:09am PDT

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"Mom. Sometimes I have to tell B things that are true and helpful…." . . A pause. Wheels are turning. . . "Do I have to say them in a way that is kind? Because frankly, she can be really annoying." . . #whensiblingrelationshipsmirrorreallife #learningtocorrectourbrotherswithlove #heyyouvegotaplankthere #youknowwhat? #sodoI #mysundaybest #mymasstakeaway

A post shared by Ginny Kochis •Not So Formulaic (@ginnykochis) on Sep 10, 2017 at 12:27pm PDT

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Yesterday, our priest's homily wasn't really on the readings. Instead, we talked about the Eucharist. He talked about the power God's word has. With examples like Creation and raising Lazarus, there are a ton of examples of how powerful God's word is. When Christ tells us that the bread is His body, we know that it truly is. . . . As Catholics, we are so blessed to be able to receive this beautiful gift of the Eucharist every time we're at Mass. . . . #MyMassTakeaway #CatholicsofInstagram #lovetheword #Eucharist #Communion

A post shared by Kate Hendrick (@stumblingtowardsainthood) on Sep 11, 2017 at 8:19am PDT

Your turn:

I want to know your Mass takeaway too! Comment with your thoughts on the readings, your pastor’s homily, or anything that struck you during your time at Mass.

3 thoughts on “#mymasstakeaway 23rd Sunday in ordinary time”

Scott says:

September 10, 2017 at 6:39 pm

I go to different denomination. My takeaway is that if I am in God’s timing all will go perfectly. This relates to being corrected because often I will do things in my time which usually doesn’t work out to good.

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1. tojesussincerely says:
  
  September 10, 2017 at 8:24 pm
  
  It’s so true, when we try to take control, things can get ugly. Thanks for the reminder to trust in God’s timing! p.s. I’m so glad you shared your viewpoint from a different denomination. We’re all members of the Body of Christ, and it’s powerful and important for us to stand together in the Truth.
  
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  1. Scott says:
    
    September 10, 2017 at 10:20 pm
    
    I agree. I used to be catholic and I respect a lot of what the church had done and says. I especially like St. Francis and people like mother theresa.
    
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