17th Sunday of the Year (C)

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

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

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

Paraphrase of the Sunday gospel


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."

Gospel Reflection

"Lord, teach us to pray."

Jesus took the occasion to teach about prayer in this Sunday's gospel passage. In the passage, one of the Lord's disciples asked Jesus how they are to pray. This is how Jesus proceeded. First, He taught the "Our Father" (Lk 11:2-4) - from which the Pater Noster, as formulated today in the form familiar to us in the Mass, comes from. Second, He proceeds to tell a parable (Lk 11:5-8) - emphasizing the importance of persistence in prayer. And Lastly, He teaches the importance of faith in prayer (Lk 11:9-13) - faith in a heavenly Father who knows how to give his children what they need, when they "ask and seek" Him in prayer.


That gospel story of Jesus teaching His disciples, is one source from which the Church continues the mission of Jesus to teach about prayer. As the community of Christians brought this tradition of prayer to mission areas, this tradition of prayer became inculturated in the many cultures that accepted the Christian life. Below are excerpts from Italian and French Saints who extended the teaching of Jesus on praying the "Our Father" to other truths about prayer:


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 taught by Jesus in the "Our Father" is a very precious gift. It is the most basic prayer that completes other forms of prayer. Many fail to see its importance in daily life. But it is what gives life to the soul. Prayer feeds every baptized believer with the faith, hope, and love to do God's will. It is a gift that we receive from the Holy Spirit. It brings the peace and joy that often eludes those who are excessively active in the world. It leads anyone to a God who keeps us balanced, to be contemplative and active in a way that makes us productive and life-giving instruments to all we work and live with. Prayer makes us see a Father who is holy, and whose will and dominion spans the earth and the heavens. The grace of prayer reveals a God who provides for all His children, who in humility, understand His will for every step they need to take.

Scripture quotes:

• "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)

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16th Sunday of the Year (C)

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

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

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

Paraphrase of the Sunday gospel


"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."

Gospel Reflection

This gospel story of the Lord Jesus visiting the house of Martha and Mary presents to us two spiritual paths in serving God. There is Martha's path - which is to serve the Lord directly by detailing all food and drink necessities, and other matters of hospitality. And there is Mary's path - which is 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" in the eyes of the Lord, is its opportunity to listen to Him, give Him importance in one's life, and receive the freedom to set as corollary the many cares and anxieties that can accompany Martha's path.

Traditional interpretation of this gospel passage teach that Martha's path is followed by Catholics in the active apostolate: by the clergy, religious, and lay; in ministry to the family, the education apostolate, the media, health sector, and in parish or missionary work to both Catholics or non-Catholics. Mary's path, on the other hand represent those who are pure contemplatives: 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 only is required". On the other hand, those in the active apostolate can accomplish many things, but have to avoid the temptation and anxiety of so many cares that they forget that "one thing only is required".

Up to this time, 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 one's daily life of prayer and work. One only needs to discern at times what balance of prayer and activity can help achieve all that has to be accomplished and at the same time listen to the Lord well and discern which work should be given priority over another in obedience to His will. This gospel passage is an eye-opener for all. It raises two important questions to the soul. Is the Lord calling us to be more prayerful at this time, or is He calling us to be more active in doing His will? What balance of prayer and work can remind that "one thing only is required"?

Scripture quotes:

• "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)

Reference:

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15th Sunday of the Year (C)

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

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

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

Paraphrase of the Sunday gospel


On one occasion


a lawyer stood up
to pose this problem
to Jesus:


"Teacher,
what must I do
to inherit everlasting life?"


Jesus answered him:


"What is written in the law?
How do you read it?"


He replied:


"You shall love the Lord your God


        with all your heart
        with all your soul
        with all your strength
        and with all your mind;


and your neighbor as yourself."


Jesus said,
"You have answered correctly.
Do this and you shall live."


But because he wished
to justify himself
he said to Jesus,


"And who is my neighbor?"


Jesus replied:


"There was a man
going down from Jerusalem
to Jericho
who fell in with robbers.


They stripped him,
beat him,
and then went off
leaving him half-dead.


A priest happened to be going down
the same road;
he saw him
but continued on.


Likewise
there was a Levite
who came the same way;
he saw him
and went on.


But
a Samaritan
who was journeying along
came on him
and was moved to pity
at the sight.


He approached him
and dressed his wounds,
pouring in oil and wine
as a means to heal.


He then hoisted him
on his own beast
and brought him to an inn,
where he cared for him.


The next day
he took out two silver pieces
and gave them to the innkeeper
with the request:


'Look after him,
and if there is any further expense
I will repay you on my way back'."


"Which of these three,
in your opinion,
was neighbor to the man
who fell in with robbers?"


The answer came,


"The one who treated him
with compassion."


Jesus said to him, 'Then go and do the same.'

Gospel Reflection

"Then go and do the same." Jesus presented to the lawyer, who questioned Him about eternal life, the strong and positive influence of good example. We need a lot of this in our times. This Sunday's gospel portrays a parable to show what good example is. Jesus makes this point clearer through the parable of the Good Samaritan which He presented not only to the lawyer but to everyone in the crowd. This parable is a familiar story not only to Catholics and Christians of other denominations but also to non-Christians.

The parable has many lessons to teach us. When a man who was on a journey fell into robbers and was left half-dead, notice who left his focus on what he had to do, to attend to a call to practice compassion and charity.

• A priest saw him and passed him by.
• the Levite did the same: he saw him and went on.
• 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. It went beyond the racial boundaries between Jew and Samaritan. In today's AI-mindset, compassion is an irreplaceable human skill and gift from God which AI cannot automate. Only humans can practice compassion. If the Samaritan in biblical times can practice it, so can people of warring nations do the same. The Spirit of Christ's compassion can possess any soul in the battlefield. It is the stuff that produces heroes, like St. John Paul II.

Compassion is also the reason why St. John Paul II drew huge audiences 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 and encouraged every soul 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 John Paul II, we are called by our baptismal consecration, to cultivate in that same quality of compassion and care for others in whatever circumstances our work and life leads us. We need not be itinerant missionaries like Jesus and St. John Paul II, but each one has the potential to practice compassion. And for the lay faithful, the spirit of compassion Jesus has shown by his life and mission can be brought to places of work and in secular environments which the clergy or religious cannot attend to. The call of Jesus in the gospel will always be with us: "Then go and do the same."

Scripture quotes:

• "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)

Reference:

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