17th Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Reflections for Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

17th Sunday of the Year (C), July 28, 2013

Liturgical readings
Genesis 18:20-32
Psalm 138
Colossians 2:12-14
Luke 11:1-13


"Lord, teach us to pray."

One day
Jesus was praying
in a certain place.


When he had finished,
one of his disciples asked him,


"Lord,
teach us to pray
as John taught his disciples."


He said to them,


"When you pray, say:


'Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day
our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
for we too forgive all
who do us wrong;
and subject us not to the trial.'"


Jesus said to them:


"If one of you knows
someone who comes to him
in the middle of the night
and says to him,


'Friend,
lend me three loaves,
for a friend of mine has come in
from a journey
and I have nothing to offer him';


and he from inside
should reply,


'Leave me alone.
The door is shut now
and my children
and I are in bed.


I can't get up
to look after your needs.'"


- I tell you,
even though he does not get up
and take care of the man because of friendship,
he will find himself doing so because of his persistence
and give him as much as he needs.'"


"So I say to you,


'Ask
and you shall receive;


seek
and you shall find;


knock
and it shall be opened to you.'"



"For whoever asks,
receives;


whoever seeks,
finds;


whoever knocks,
is admitted.


What father among you
will give his son a snake if he asks for a fish,
or hand him a scorpion if he asks for an egg?


If you,
with all your sins, know how to give your children good things,


how much more will the heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."



"Lord, teach us to pray."

This Sunday's gospel passage is about prayer. One of the Lord's disciples asked Him how they are to pray. Jesus took occasion to teach about prayer. First, He taught the "Our Father" - from which the Pater Noster comes from. Second, He proceeds to tell a parable - emphasizing the importance of persistence in prayer. And Lastly, He teaches the importance of faith in prayer - faith in a heavenly Father who knows how to give his children what they need, when they "ask and seek" Him in prayer.


The Church continues the mission of Christ to teach about prayer. Below are a few quotes from the Saints who taught the importance of prayer in our Christian life:


The Holy Spirit is the teacher of prayer. He enables us to
live in perfect peace and constant joy, which is a foretaste
of paradise. (St. Philip Neri)


As often as you become conscious of these promptings to good
in your hearts, give glory to God and reverence the Holy Spirit
whose voice is sounding in your ears. (St. Bernard of Clairvaux)


Ask God to give you the grace of prayer...ask him ceaselessly
It is an alms that you beg of him. It is not possible, if you
persevere, for him to refuse you. (St. Vincent de Paul)


The grace of prayer. It is a gift that we receive from the Holy Spirit. It brings peace and joy. It leads us to God and to practice reverence and respect for all life. It gives light to our minds and strengthens our faith. It makes us aware of a Father who is holy, and whose will and dominion spans the earth and the heavens. Prayer makes us see a God who provides for all His children. Prayer makes us humble to understand His will for specific situations in life.

Scripture verses:
"I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart." (Psalm 138)
"God gave you new life in company with Christ." (Colossians 2)

16th Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Reflections for Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

16th Sunday of the Year (C), July 21, 2013

Liturgical readings
Genesis 18:1-10
Psalm 15
Colossians 1:24-28
Luke 10:38-42

"One thing only is required."



Jesus entered a village


where a woman named Martha
welcomed him to her home.


She had a sister named Mary,


who seated herself at the Lord's feet

and
listened to his words.


Martha,
who was busy with all the details
of hospitality,


came to him and said,


"Lord,
are you not concerned that my sister
has left me all alone to do the household tasks?


Tell her to help me."


The Lord in reply
said to her:


"Martha, Martha


you are anxious and upset
about many things;


one thing only is required.


Mary has chosen the better portion
and she shall not be deprived of it."



"One thing only is required."

The gospel story of Martha and Mary describes the paths they took to serve the Lord. There is Martha's path: to serve the Lord directly by detailing all food and drink necessities, and other matters of hospitality. And there is Mary's path: to sit by the Lord, keep him company, and listen to his words. Both paths are good and holy. But what makes Mary's path "better" is the opportunity to really listen to Jesus and receive the freedom not to be too concerned with the many cares and anxieties that accompany Martha's path of service.


Classic interpretation of this gospel passage teach that Martha's path is followed by Catholics in the active apostolate: in family, education, media, health, parish, or in the mission to non-Catholics. Mary's path, on the other hand, represent those who are purely contemplative: the monks and the cloistered nuns. The simplicity and constancy of life of the monks and the nuns makes it easier for them to follow the "one thing required". On the other hand, those who are more active, have to deal with many things in their agenda. In their service, they are prone to be tempted to anxiety and forget that "one thing only is required".


There are very few who are called to the purely contemplative life. The majority of Catholics balance both contemplation and activity in each of their respective states of life. In practice, both "Martha's path" and "Mary's path" are really integrated and intertwined with each other in the daily life of prayer and work. What is needed is just to discern at times what balance of prayer and activity can help us listen to the Lord well, be productive in our work, and be molded more in His image. Maybe this gospel passage can open our eyes and see where we are in this balance. Is the Lord calling us to be more prayerful, or to be more active in our life in Him? What balance can remind us that "one thing only is required"?

Scripture verses:
"The Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre." (Genesis 18)
"He honors those who fear the Lord." (Psalm 15)
"A mystery hidden from ages and generations past but now revealed to his holy ones." (Colossians 1)

15th Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Reflections for Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

15th Sunday of the Year (C), July 14, 2013

Liturgical readings
Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Psalm 69
Colossians 1:15-20
Luke 10:25-37

"Then go and do the same."

The positive influence of good example. We need a lot of this in our times. The gospel portrays what good example is in our faith. A parable from Jesus makes this point before a lawyer. This parable is a familiar story even to non-Christians.

There was a man who on his journey fell into robbers and was left half-dead. A priest saw him and passed him by. So did a Levite. But when a Samaritan saw him, noticing that he was a Jew (Jews of that time looked down on their Samaritan neighbors), his heart was nevertheless moved with compassion. Despite the racial barriers between them, the Samaritan took care of the wounded Jew.

Compassion is a universal virtue. It is a language understood by all. That is why Blessed John Paul II drew such a huge audience wherever he went in his missionary journeys. Everyone understood well the language of compassion he spoke. His respect for life in all its stages, enkindled every heart who sought God earnestly and sincerely. His devotion to the Blessed Mother of God influenced the entire world, to work for the cause of peace, and to care for the sick, the elderly, and life at its most vulnerable stages.

"Then go and do the same." Like Jesus and Blessed John Paul II, we are called to cultivate in our lives and work that same quality of compassion and care for others. We need not be itinerant missionaries like them, but each one of us has been gifted by God with one or more of the following: strength of character, a rank of privilege or influence, material resources, an ability, a talent, a specific intelligence, or a noble ancestry. With just one of any of these, we can apply the universal virtue of compassion to our places of work - where not all are Catholics, nor even Christians. So, the Lord speaks to our heart in the gospel now: "Then go and do the same."

Scripture verses
"This command is something very near to you, already in your hearts; you have only to carry it out." (Deuteronomy 30)
"For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah." (Psalm 69)
"Christ is before all else that is. In him everything continues in being." (Colossians 1)