Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gn 18: 20-32 / Col 2:12-14 / Lk 11:1-13
The disciples ask Jesus to teach them to pray. Were they surprised by his answer? Scripture scholars say that much in the Lord’s Prayer is found throughout the Jewish practice and worship the disciples and Jesus already shared.
What’s new in Jesus words? We’re to pray for God’s kingdom. What is stopping that kingdom? What powers deny justice? It’s frightening to consider all the ways in which the poor are given to chance to improve their lot and the ways in which power is used to collect more wealth in the face of those who have nothing.
Different people who pray for their daily bread ask for different things. Those who don’t eat every day pray that will change. Can I eat today? Can my young children and my old parents eat? Would those of us who have much dare to ask for - dare to settle for - receiving just daily bread?
The Lord’s Prayer moves us to ask for forgiveness and strength to forgive. We ask, too, that when the biggest tests come, we’ll receive the strength to endure them.
The epistle to the Colossians shows us where our hope and strength come from; our sins are nailed to the cross-to Jesus’ deadly cross-the place where debts paid.
Two remarkable elements in the Lord’s Prayer gives new hope to each person who prays as Jesus taught. The early church fathers understood the daily bread of Jesus’ prayer as the Eucharist. Can we go to the table we share, can we see who is rich and who is poor there and see Christ in them?
This is daunting. Yet it is possible when we pray, as Jesus teaches us, to the One we can approach with intimacy and childlike trust-our Abba.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Jesus taught his disciples pray the “OUR FATHER.” The Church teaches us to pray in other also, and also the proper times to pray. Morning, night, at meal time, in difficulties and temptations in brief, wherever we feel the need of help. The Act of Contrition should be an important prayer in our daily life.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.