Let us pray with humility and persistence: Almighty God, ever-loving Father, your care extends beyond the boundaries of race and nation to the hearts of all who live. May the walls which prejudice raises between us crumble beneath the shadow of your outstretched arms. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Sunday Missal)
Jesus tells us that he came to bring division (Luke 12:49-53). First, this does not mean that we go out of our way to create a division and a ruckus in the name of Christ. Second, it is not a badge of Christianity to say mean ugly things in order to rile others up. Yet, what do these words of Jesus mean? The original readers of Luke’s Gospel were cast out of their homes and communities for following Christ. Thankfully, we do not face such opposition for being a Christian, but if you had been a Christian in ISIS held areas it was a reality. Being a Christian in some parts of the world may cost you a good job or a good position, or land you in jail; and, yes, betrayal by family and friends.
Being a Christian does carry some protests that cause divisions in that we protest what is wrong with society by living lives of compassion and kindness. Unfortunately and sadly, a few may react with vehemence against lives that bear witness against their prejudice, malice, and hatred. Yes, when you choose to the compassionate kind deed like Christ, you may find opposition.
Let us pray for trust in the promises of God: Lord God, help us to serve you faithfully in the present and to be ready to follow you in the future. Take us by the hand and guide us through all obstacles to the land of your promise. Amen.
(Claretian Publications)
Isaiah received a God-given vision about what their society could have been if they indeed had been willing and obedient (Isaiah 1:1, 11-17). Their rebellion against God’s command to care for the most vulnerable in society brought disastrous consequences. God does not overlook any society’s injustice toward its most vulnerable citizens, including our own! Jesus himself talks about judging the nations based upon their treatment of their society’s most vulnerable. Tradition has it that Isaiah was sawn into by the evil King Manasseh, and we know what happened to Jesus.
We have not arrived and we know we can do better. Until we reach the “other side,” God gives us the grace to be willing and obedient in order to set things right so that the present and future can be different (Isaiah 1:18-20). This fosters hope for a better world, both today and tomorrow.
Let us pray that we use this earth’s goods wisely in the service of God and people: Father, you care, and so in you we trust. May greed not blind to pile up goods and neglect things that do not really matter. May we generously share what we have with the hungry and the poor, so that we become rich in your sight. We ask this through Christ our Lord, who was born in poverty, yet exalted most high. Amen.
(Claretian Publications)
Once there was a man living the American Dream in ancient Palestine (Luke 12:16-21). He was so successful that he had to build bigger barns to hold all his goodies, yet he neglected to think of God when his untimely death occurred. The parable is called “The Rich Fool” because he was not rich toward God. His sin was not eating, drinking, and making merry; rather, his sin was that he prevented others from doing the same by hoarding his wealth.
(W. Robert McClelland)
May we be rich toward God in this life to make life more bearable for all, especially the most vulnerable as Jesus would say it.
Let us pray in all simplicity to our heavenly Father: God our Father, your Son taught us through the Holy Spirit to speak to you with all trust. Do not allow us to forget to pray for the needs of others and that we pray for the thing that really matters: Your will and your kingdom. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
(Claretian Publications)
Colossians tells us that our minds can be captivated by evil, corrupt ways of thinking. It also tells us of a vantage point from which to gauge the competing claims on our lives, and that vantage point is Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:6-8). May we not lose our focus upon Christ and become captivated by malice, greed, hatred, and prejudice. May we “set our minds on ‘things above.’”
(Colossians 3:1-3)
Let us pray that we gladly hear the Words of Christ: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming from God and reconciling us to him. Teach us to listen to your Words, and treasure them more than anything else. For you eternally dwell with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
(Claretian Publications)
If you treat God as a divine spare tire, how much development of a relationship with God do you miss? The disciples wished to develop a life of prayer in order to develop a deeper awareness of their connection with God and others. Jesus gave them the Lord’s Prayer, (Luke 11:1-4). Jesus stresses the importance of asking, searching, and knocking (Luke 11:5-10). For what do we keep asking, searching, and knocking? God, I have yet to receive my Roll Royse! Jesus was not speaking of material things, rather he was talking about the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:11-13).
The Holy Spirit brings the teachings and influence of Christ to us personal and corporately as Christ’s Church. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit we pray “your kingdom come.” May we hear and discern the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking God’s Word of love and compassion to us and the world. Until then, “Keep asking for a better world, keep seeking a better world, and keep knocking on the door for a better world (Gerald Darring).”
