Sunday Reflections

“Today’s readings offer valuable lessons concerning trust and humility, both of which serve as important criteria for Christians in developing healthy prayer practices and a deeper relationship with God” (Matt Charbonneau, “30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time,” Living With Christ, October 2019).  Today’s first Communion Antiphon focuses on our receiving God’s saving help (which is always present) and joyfully praising God for it.  Note also that the word-concept “righteousness/righteous” occurs in the First Reading, the Psalm Response, the Second Reading, and the Gospel

In today’s Gospel (Luke 18:1-8) Jesus tells the parable of the widow who cries to the judge for justice.  It is important to contextualize this story with the opening line of Gospel: “Jesus told the disciples a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.” and with the closing line of the Gospel: “And yet when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth.” Let us spend a moment each on prayer, not losing heart and faith.

I have always been encouraged by St. Paul in his Second Letter to the Corinthians when he talks about “a thorn in the flesh that was given to me.” He tells us that he asked God to take this away—whatever it was—three times, but God’s response was that God’s grace would be sufficient for Paul, and that God’s power would best be manifested through Paul’s weakness (2 Cor 12:7-9).

The responsibilities we encounter in life are many, and some of them demanding and difficult.  The images in the gospel remind us to be responsible in our vocations and in the roles, we have accepted in life (such as our job).  Sometimes we may fulfill our responsibilities, our “duty”, grudgingly or halfway.  We may feel some things as ‘beneath’ us.  But, the example in the gospel shows us that our service should be with gratitude and joy.  We are using well the time, talents and treasure that God has given us.  We are faithful stewards!  May this gospel e

Today is also the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, who are dear to and close to Pope Francis’ heart.  Today there is also a collection for the needs of the Church in Canada (please be generous here).  And, lastly, the commentary today will be a bit longer than usual because of the importance and difficulty of the central content, i.e., Christianity/Catholicism and wealth/riches.  The Entrance Antiphon, which is biblical, sets the context of our reflection today with hard words on not hearing what God tells us to do; these words are based on parts of the segment of Daniel 3

The portrayal of the prophet Amos that we read in the first reading is a person filled with anger. This anger when understood and put in context appears to be justified. Amos finds that those who are in privileged positions in society are claiming all the wealth of land and possessions and exploiting the poor in obtaining this wealth. The result of these actions is him experiencing human suffering. Those who are the weakest and most vulnerable are suffering at the expense of the most powerful.

I have found a popular reaction to this reading of the Prodigal Son is, “It’s not fair!”  Although we may identify to some extend with the disobedient and selfish son, most prefer to align themselves with the dutiful and obedient other son.  I believe he was more motivated by fear of his father, than love.  If he had left home, I doubt he would have ever returned, doubting that the father would love him enough to forgive him.  So, he felt justified in rejecting his newly welcomed brother, and was angry with his father.  In our human condition, are we welcoming of th

INTRODUCTION: We are at the end of summer and have only a little bit left of this very beautiful season.  All of us are fully blessed and loved by God Who has generously given us His/Her Word (the Scriptures) in order to speak directly to us, God’s children.  This Word is too important for us not to increase and improve our graced approach to it in our Sunday Masses.  Please allow me to explore with you a way for doing this before we approach this Sunday’s Scripture readings. And thankyou for letting me make these reflections a bit longer so I can do this.

I was at a perpetual vow ceremony last weekend. I did not know anyone there and was unfamiliar with the practices of this group. I asked another priest if we should sit in a particular place and he indicated that this was a suitable place for us. No sooner had we sat down, and someone came by to explain to us that we were sitting in the section reserved for the family. The person “graciously” led us toward the back of the room where the clergy were to sit! This led, of course, to some TEMPORARY embarrassment.

How embarrassing to hear, as in the gospel, someone say, “I don’t know you”.  In this parable, Jesus calls us to be faithful to Him, and to show that we belong to Him by our quality of life.  It is not a Baptismal certificate or First Communion photos that will get us into heaven.  We make ourselves “first” in the kingdom, by our humility and obedience to Christ.  Humility helps us realize that all that we have and are comes from God.  This also helps us to see ourselves ‘on a level playing field‘ and in harmony with others.  Our obedience is to the will of God