Jul 25, 2025
17th Sunday - Spiritual food to sustain us
Luke 11: 1-13
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072725.cfm
When you pray say, 'Our Father . . . '"
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O God, protector of those who hope in you,
without whomnothing has firm foundation or is holy,
bestow in abundance your mercy upon us
and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide,
we may use the good thing that pass
in such a way as to hold fast even now
to those that ever endure.
(Collect of Sunday)
Trust is an important value that is essential in our
human relationships but often we are rightly cautious of what may seem “too
good to be true.” If it sounds too good to be true, as the saying goes, it
probably is.
For some people the same principle is applied in our
spiritual life. That is, belief in God
as all loving, merciful, and caring is probably just too good to be true. Some might even sadly go so far as to say
that imagining a God to be such is merely a psychological projection of our
deepest longing for better parents and for an improved version of our fathers
or a way to deal with the dysfunction of life.
Yet, our readings this Sunday uncover the very nature of God to be one
so present to us and attentive to our life that we can turn to him in a very
personal way. This God, as Jesus
presented to us, is like a Father who assures us that our needs are heard.
But, let’s face it, and I include myself in this of course, at times we question the value of prayer. It is frustrating at times since either God seems to be deaf, distant, uncaring, or aloof from our desires and requests in prayer; or so it seems. St. Augustine states that God will delay in giving us what we want because he wants our hearts to expand to be able to receive it. That’s worth reflection, isn’t it?
However, this weekend’s readings offer us a more
assuring answer to that same question. We are offered both the example of
Abraham and three teachings of Jesus on prayer that give us confidence that God
is always good for his word. And the most significant ask we can make of God is
to receive the Holy Spirit. In your
prayer, do you ask for the Spirit? As the gospel ends, we hear: “. . . how much more will the heavenly Father
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Lk 11: 13).
In Genesis we hear of the plea-bargain between Abraham
and God as they walk towards the infamous city of Sodom. The familiarity
between Abraham and God is impressive and he is certainly persistent in his
asking.
God has threatened to destroy the city of Sodom because
of their great sinfulness so Abraham steps in as an advocate for the very few
good people who might remain there. He
appeals to God’s better characteristics of mercy and forgiveness. I love the
complement Abraham extends to God in this pursuit on behalf of the people: “Far
be it from you to do such a thing . . .” Flattery will get you somewhere.
How far will God’s mercy go? He knows that God does not desire destruction
but will honor goodness. God is at
heart, mercy and forgiveness. Sadly, poor Sodom was so corrupt, not even ten
good people, that God had no choice but to wipe them off the desert apparently.
Right justice demanded it. I’ve always wondered if Abraham had asked a final
time, “What if there is just one good person . . .”
What would God say then? My suspicions are that he
would have spared the city even for the sake of the one.
Jesus’ Gospel stories of the traveller in need who
knocks on the door in the middle of the night for some bread is similar. It
seems the midnight traveller is persistent as Abraham in his requests for
bread.
In ancient times the mark of each town would be the
measure of its hospitality. It was
expected, in fact required that food be given to travellers who arrive. It was a matter of honor to be marked as a
town of welcome and hospitality so there is a reputation to uphold here.
The lesson seems to be more the assurance of the traveller
that his request will be answered, persistent or not. It reveals to us the nature of God himself –
“Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will
be opened.” In other words, we can
be assured that our prayer (request) our “daily bread” as we hear in the lesson
on prayer that Jesus’ teaches will be heard and answered.
But this daily bread we seek is not what you might find in your grocery or favorite bakery. It is a bread that, as the original Greek states in the use of the word, a kind of “super-substantial” bread. A bread not unlike the Eucharist that sustains us throughout our lives. So, in this case, think assurance rather than persistence as a lesson.
Still, we become frustrated in prayer. We become
disappointed in prayer. We become confused, tired or lax or only occasional
with our prayer? I pray and nothing happens,
least alone what I have prayed for is not granted.
Maybe the last example Jesus’ gives is an answer to
this confusion. No matter how old we
are, how successful, how educated or influential, we are all still children of
God. And being children, we don’t always
know what is best for us so we often confuse our wants with our needs. We ask not because God needs to know, he
already does, but we seek because we need to know what God desires for us.
Clearly, this is a God who has our best interest at heart and we don’t always know what we need. What we need is a fuller sharing in the Holy Spirit and that is the greatest gift we can receive. To discern what God’s will is for us would be a great, an awesome, answer to any prayer.
So, maybe it’s good to ask ourselves, how do I pray?
Can I do so in an attitude of forgiveness and trust? How regular is prayer for
me? Daily? Only when in trouble? Do I feel a relationship with God that is
friendly, fearful, fantastic, distant, estranged, or …?
How I answer those questions may reveal the greatest
needs of my life – and those I bring to prayer. Our father cares for us and so
we pray . . .
Jul 19, 2025
16th Sunday: What is the "better 'part?"
"There is need of only one thing . . ."
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Luke 10: 38-42
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072025.cfm
Show favor, O Lord, to your servants
and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace,
that, made fervent in hop, faith and charity,
they may be ever watchful in keeping your commands.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who live and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen
(Collect of Sunday)
Hospitality, the welcome of friends, family and even strangers, into our homes and our lives is a valued and important virtue. I think we are programed to naturally gather with others in groups of various size whether in mere casual conversation or more formal and ritualized occasions that mark the passages of our lives. In our Catholic faith we view the sacramental moments of baptism, first communion, weddings, funerals and such to be moments when we come together with family and friends, often with some we have not seen in quite a while. We are social creatures by God's design.
Ultimately, it is our gathering for holy Mass each
weekend or daily when we break open God’s Word and share in Christ’s Body and
Blood that we see ourselves as a communion of persons, a body of believers,
called to announce the Gospel of the Lord in word and sacrament and we find
ourselves, in all the beauty of diversity as the Church of God in prayer.
Our familiar Gospel story this Sunday where Jesus
visits the home of his friends: Martha and Mary who are the sisters of Lazarus
whom he restored to life, have always been seen as a model both of hospitality
and an illustration of the contemplative life vs the active life. Mary is seated before Jesus, contemplating
his words and indeed offering him her full attention. Meanwhile, Martha seems to be fussing around
the kitchen, cooking, and setting the table for their esteemed visitor. Both are focused on Jesus but in markedly
different ways.
Be that as it may, looking at our first reading may
offer another insight. In our first
reading we find Abraham seated by an ancient grove of trees (terebinth) on a
hot desert day. In the distance he sees three men and recognized them as
visitors along the way. Though three men, he addresses them with the singular
“Sir.” Who are these three? More than
mere passersby, they become a divine revelation of the Lord to Abraham so is
his singular “Sir” an early illusion to the Trinity; three as one? May well be.
The whole of Abraham’s attention is now given to his
unexpected visitor. He honors them by
busily engaging his wife Sarah and himself in the preparation of food and drink
and then rests with them. Showing
gratitude, the visitor, the Lord himself, offers Abraham the fulfillment of the
early Covenant promises that from his progeny descend countless people of
faith.
Abraham welcomed the Lord into his life – he made room
for this divine presence and in the end was rewarded greatly: “Sarah will have
a son.” God will not be outdone by our hospitality for he offers more than we
can ever give. Abraham offers the visitor food, drink and rest – God offers
Abraham the promise of countless descendants.
In similar vein, Luke’s Gospel assures his community
and us by association, that the welcome of Jesus into our lives is primary
above other things. Christ is not just an ordinary man and his presence with
Martha and Mary not only emphasizes Jesus own invitation to those on the fringe
of society, to hear his word and to learn from it to follow the good news of
the Gospel. It is God they welcome in Christ himself.
Yet, it is the behavior of the two women that catches
Jesus’ attention. Martha is distracted,
so preoccupied with details and concerns. She is more focused on the tasks
before her rather than to be truly attentive to their visitor.
Meanwhile Mary’s behavior reveals the true place our
central attention should lie – on the Lord. Both are well intentioned but our
lives must be centered not on all the tasks before us but rather on welcoming
God as the center of our lives. Set some
priorities in life, for example, for not everything is equally important and
not everything needs our immediate attention.
Some things can and should wait until another time for the "better
part" of things to receive our care. But if the whole orientation of our
life remains centered on God then the meaning and purpose of all the rest falls
into its more proper place. Does this mean we must pray all day? That we simply leave aside our
responsibilities with job, family, faith, etc.?
For example, have you ever found yourself near a
Church, in conversation with a friend, standing before a beautiful sunset or sunrise,
taking a walk in natural surroundings, or even in idle traffic and felt the
call of pray? Did you or did you find
yourself like Martha, still busy about many things or did you respond, even
briefly, to that momentary call of God.
God can break into our lives at any moment if he so chooses. My spiritual director once advised me that
the desire to pray is a prayer in itself as we respond in trust.
Still, what of Jesus’ own call to be active in our
faith; the corporal works of mercy for example?
To feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty and
those many ways in which we engage in social service – don’t they have value
too or must we just spend our day sitting at the feet of the Lord and
contemplate? Parish life is busy and my life as a priest in parish work is
extremely taken up with many things.
Who will serve in the soup kitchens, the local food
banks, our outreach to the homeless, and those who are economically
disadvantaged? What about the numerous
hospitals and schools all of which make our Catholic lives very busy about many
things like Martha? Let’s not be too hard on this well intentioned woman.
We are called to carry on the mission of Christ
entrusted to us; if we don’t we may well become nothing but secular social
workers whose lives are centered no farther than the people we serve. That’s a
start but as a Christian, we see God in them. With God as the central focus of
our lives, we see the tasks before us as a living out of Christ’s mission. We will see God present in those we serve, we
will find a joy that is more fulfilling as we serve the Christ in others. Our
daily prayer, focused on the Lord will be the essential motivation to serve him
in others.
Likely the best contemporary example we have of this
is St. Teresa of Calcutta, Mother Teresa.
As a woman of prayer and service, she saw the face of Christ in
everyone. Her Sisters, as she always did, begin the day with Eucharistic adoration. Before they hit the streets and serve the
poorest of the poor, they come to the Lord as their central focus. Both Martha
and Mary live well together.
While we may not be called to the same heroic
Christianity of Mother Teresa, we are called nonetheless to sit at the feet of
the Lord and arrange our lives accordingly. We do good after the example of
Christ himself. We draw strength from
those moments of quiet prayer, sharing in the Word and Eucharist each week, and
the conscious effort we make to see Christ in others, especially in the less
fortunate among us.
Contemplation and action both have value. As busy priests
we here of the importance of “balance” in our lives between God and service. I
can only do the work of one priest. I can’t
clone myself.
When the two are blended together - when we find the
Lord among us in our liturgy, our prayer, the call for assistance to those in
need, and the many other ways God comes to visit us - let's take heart from the
example of Mary and her well-meaning and generous sister Martha.
Let’s not be “. . . anxious and worried about many things.” But live with God as our center and our strength.
As St. Pope John
XXIII once famously said, “Lord, it’s your Church, not mine, good night!”
Jul 12, 2025
15th Sunday: "Go and do likewise"
"Who is my neighbor?"
Luke 10: 25 - 37
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/071325.cfm
A Special Prayer for Texas Flood Victims
God of Mercy and Shelter,
In this time of devastation and loss, we lift up our hearts to You.
Be close to all who suffer from the flooding in our communities.
Embrace those who mourn,
shelter the displaced,
strengthen the weary,
and inspire all of us to offer loving assistance to those in need.
Through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Anthony of Padua,
may our Archdiocese of San Antonio be a beacon of hope and solidarity.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
I distinctly remember a good number
of years ago, a brother priest, older than myself at that time, had quite a
reputation for picking up hitchhikers. A
rather “crusty” older guy, often seen smoking but with a good heart.
His tendency to always pick up a
hitch hiker along the road, caused worry among many. Worry for his safety and his reputation
depending on who the hitchhiker was. Although we priests tried to caution him, he saw this as a personal ministry.
While hitchhiking seems to be a rare
thing these days back in the 1980’s and 90’s it seemed that it was not at all
unusual to see such men, thumb extended, standing by the entrance to a freeway
or country road waiting for a car to stop and pick them up to take them to
another destination.
Well, despite any worries it seemed, Fr.
Bob always stopped, invited the hiker into his car and took them on their
way.
With seemingly no regard for his
personal safety or even reputation, he would if asked share stories about what
he learned from the hitchhiker. I never
recall hearing that he felt he was in danger or that his invited rider
threatened him. His response was usually some form of: “I’m just trying to help
this poor guy.”
Overall, this priestly good Samaritan
must have planted many seeds of gratitude in the hearts of his brief
companions. We should all be good
Samaritans without question towards those in need. Nevertheless, in such a situation, I think I
would think twice about doing the same as Fr. Bob but there is an important lesson here
about compassion.
In our present day we often become
easily blind to the needs of our neighbor. American culture is built upon
making your own life, being independent, not taking a handout, and working
hard. “Out of sight, out of mind” is an
easy maxim to live by these days. Should I or shouldn’t I give some money to
the person with the sign at the stop light?
Our Gospel this Sunday certainly
reveals a stunning answer by Jesus to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” The answer
is simply “everyone is my neighbor,” particularly those in need of
compassion and mercy. Those I might even think are my enemies or strangers are
my neighbor. If that person, for
example, the one you find most uncomfortable or who has caused you some pain or
frustration in your life was truly in need, would you help them or would you
find at least mild revenge thinking they deserved what they got? Can I be a
place of refuge to those in need and not care about the personal cost?
Jesus’ own insight into human nature
as he told these parables was life changing. For he came to offer humanity a
way out; a place of refuge; a good Samaritan who will care for them and that
would be himself. We are the ones wounded and broken lying at the road because
of our sin. We are the ones who need
someone to save and rescue and care for us as only Christ Jesus can do so. So rather than seeing myself in the role of
the giver I might reverse positions and become the one who receives. God comes
to offer us the grace of his mercy as the man who was beaten by the robbers. He will surprise us as the man was surprised by the Samaritan's help. He will come unexpectedly and he will come with healing compassion: our sacraments particularly Reconciliation, Anointing of the sick, and the Holy Eucharist.
Jesus’ pouring out of his blood upon
the cross and the sharing of his life in the Holy Eucharist, which is our
present day “oil and wine” of healing, makes this Samaritan an image of Christ
himself.
So, we need to never lose the real
meaning of what we are called to be and that is Jesus himself to welcome the
stranger, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty and be a good example to
all around us. To behave as Christ is the ultimate answer to the initial
question posed to Jesus at the beginning of the Gospel passage: "What must
I do to inherit eternal life?"
In many ways the Church supports
profound works of charity and compassion in order to be good Samaritans. It’s not so much, then, that we try to change
THE world but that we can change our world and allow all who come to
find in us Christ himself – a place of refuge. The Eucharist is that living
presence which continues to take us out of isolation and into community – His
Body.
Let us “go and do likewise.”