17th Sunday - C (July 28, 2019)

“Teach Us to Pray”

Luke 11: 1-13

Having watched Jesus praying, “one of his disciples” asked him, “Lord, teach us to pray.”  Jesus’ relationship with his Father must be so evident and inspiring.

Maybe today, I can thank God for the people who have taught me to pray.  What do I learn from their relationship with God?

And how is my relationship with God?  Is it in anyway evident? 

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16th Sunday - C (July 21, 2019)

At His Feet, Listening

Luke 10: 38-42

We continue listening to Luke, Chapter 10.  Two weeks ago, as Jesus sent to 72 disciples out, he affirmed the value of hospitality.  He distinguished two attitudes, “Whatever town you enter and they welcome you” and “Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you” and the consequences.

Then last week, also in Chapter 10, Luke gives us the parable of the Good Samaritan, one who goes out of his way to serve the needs of another person.

That Jesus spoke of the importance of hospitality and generous service helps us to better understand what he says to Martha in today’s Gospel.

Martha does what she thinks is best to welcome Jesus. 

But that does not seem to be what Jesus is looking for.

In serving others, sometimes with good intentions, we might give others what we think they need, not what they actually need. 

And when we serve Jesus, there are moments when Jesus wants us to be with him, at his feet, listening to him, not busy running around doing things.

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15th Sunday - C (July 14, 2019)

The Compassion and Mercy of the Kingdom of God

Luke 10: 25-37

Jesus continues to travel toward Jerusalem to fulfill his mission.  Last week, we learned that he sent out his disciples to proclaim “the Kingdom of God is at hand.”  Their message includes the gift of peace.

Today, Jesus continues the proclamation of the Kingdom of God in calling us to live with compassion and mercy. 

In between the two passages, Jesus declares that his Gospel is a gift from the Father, “Lord of heaven and earth,” to “the childlike.”  Moreover, it is “hidden from the wise and the learned” (10:21). 

The Jewish audience of the parable of the Good Samaritan is in for a big surprise.  Jesus challenges them, Jewish people, to imitate a Samaritan.  This outsider “was moved with compassion” for the victim of the robbers.  He goes out of his way to care for the victim.  He spends money, the amount equaled to two days’ worth of labor, and even goes into debt for whatever it might cost him, to make sure the victim is cared for while he is absent.

The Samaritan indeed has “treated him with mercy.”  

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14th Sunday - C (July 7, 2019)

The Kingdom of Peace

Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

“Peace to this household” and “The kingdom of God is at hand for you.”

These two messages that Jesus sends the seventy-two to proclaim remind us that the presence of the Kingdom of God is the presence of peace.

Thus, the proclaimers of the Kingdom must also be the proclaimers and builders of God’s peace.  

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