16th Sunday in ORDINARY TIME ©

INTRO: tell story of the famous and wise professor!!!

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him!!!

WORDLESSLY, when it was time for the class to begin, he picked up a very large and empty JAR and
proceeded to fill it with GOLF BALLS. When the last golf ball was placed inside at the brim of the jar ……

He then asked the students if the jar was full ?????

They agreed that it WAS !!!

So, next, the professor then picked up a box of small pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full ?????

They agreed it was !!!!!!!!!

The professor then next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked one more time if the jar was full ?????

The students responded UNANIMOUSLY YES !!!!!!

The professor then produced TWO CUPS OF COFFEE from under the table and poured their entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the jar, once again!!! The students laughed. NOW IT WAS FULL!

AFTER THE LAUGHTER HAD SUBSIDED, the professor said…………………..

I want you to recognize that this jar represents your LIFE.

THE GOLF BALLS
are the IMPORTANT things – God, religion
your family
your spouse to be
your children
your health
your friends
your favorite passions
THE PEBBLES
are the other things that matter – like your job
like your home
your car
THE SAND
is everything else……the small stuff!

If you put the small stuff (the sand) into the jar “first”…………. there is NO ROOM for the pebbles or the golf balls!

The same goes for life !!!!!!!
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that essentially matter.

FIRST THINGS FIRST is what our Scriptures and liturgy are meant for in leading us into prayer this weekend……. to carry us better through the week.

God knows all our so-called NECESSARY THINGS to do!!! And God wants us to succeed in getting them all done, BUT God wants first things first.

MARY HAS CHOSEN THE BETTER WAY!!!

Some Catholics have a difficult time with prayer and reflection. Perhaps our homes are not set up correctly for this kind of comfort in prayer.
Perhaps we have not done the greatest teaching for Catholics how to construct environments in our homes for this kind of piety.

CONCLUSION:

Anyway this is a first-things-first Gospel.
May all of us choose the better way!