READINGS FOR THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C, SUNDAY 24TH JULY, 2022.
(WORLD DAY OF GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY)
First Reading: Genesis 18: 20-32
Psalm: 137
Second Reading: 2 Colossians 2: 12-14
Gospel: Luke 11: 1-13
REFLECTION BY FR CORNELIUS NWAOGWUGWU, CM
NEVER GIVE UP IN PRAYER
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today is the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. Today’s reflection will help us to renew our understanding of prayer. It will strengthen our resolve never to give up in prayer which is the key to every success in life. Jesus recognized this truth and put it into practice. Jesus started with prayer and ended with prayer. This shows that prayer is the master key. In support of this teaching, St. Vincent de Paul said, “Give me a person of prayer, and such a one will be capable of accomplishing anything.”
Today also celebrates the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. In 2008, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI composed a prayer for Grandparents. It says: “Lord Jesus, you were born of the Virgin Mary, the daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne. Look with love on grandparents the world over. Protect them! They are a source of enrichment for families, for the Church and for all of society. Support them as they grow older. May they continue to be for their families strong pillars of Gospel faith, guardians of noble domestic ideals, living treasuries of sound religious traditions. Make them teachers of wisdom and courage that they may pass on to future generations the fruits of their mature human and spiritual experience. Lord Jesus, help families and society to value the presence and role of grandparents. May they never be ignored or excluded, but always encounter respect and love. Help them to live serenely and to feel welcomed in all the years of life which you give them. Mary, Mother of all the living, keep grandparents constantly in your care, accompany them on their earthly pilgrimage, and by your prayers, grant that all families may one day be reunited in our heavenly homeland, where you await all humanity for the great embrace of life without end.”
It is fascinating to discover that there are different principles of prayer. Our prayer is effective when we pray with faith, the right intention and with perseverance. These three principles of prayer are strongly highlighted in the scriptures. In the book of Exodus, Moses had to pray perseveringly to ensure the victory of Israel over the Amalekites. (Exodus 17:8-13).
Today’s Gospel explains the importance and effects of prayer in our time. Recognizing the relevance of prayer, the disciples of Jesus said, “Lord, teach us to pray, Jesus said to them, ‘Say this when you pray: “Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.” (Luke 11: 1-13).
Jesus revealed to us the importance of prayer by teaching us the way to pray and the dispositions for prayer. In prayer, we enter into a deep relationship with God our creator. This relationship is very important because we are God’s creatures. We cannot live independent of our creator. Prayer connects us to God. Prayer establishes our relationship with God.
In God’s family, we cannot do anything effectively without Him. Jesus knocks on the door of families, to share with them the Eucharistic supper. (Revelation 3:20).
As a follow up to Christ’s invitation for prayer in all families, Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation on Love in the Family observed that: “Family prayer is a special way of expressing and strengthening this paschal faith. A few minutes can be found each day to come together before the living God, to tell him our worries, to ask for the needs of our family, to pray for someone experiencing difficulty, to ask for help in showing love, to give thanks for life and for its blessings, and to ask Our Lady to protect us beneath her maternal mantle. With a few simple words, this moment of prayer can do immense good for our families.” (Amoris Laetitia, Article 318).
God listens to our prayers. He responds to our prayers and gives us what is best for us in His own time. God is just and good to us at all times. We are invited to continue to pray individually and collectively with faith, perseverance and accept what God gives us in his own time.
Our Blessed Mother Mary is honoured by God for her total trust, faith and perseverance. Mary is our example of what it means to be prayerful. She has taught us how to express faith, total surrender and absolute obedience to God.
Like our Blessed Virgin Mary, we are urged to be untiring in prayer. May our Mother Mary intercede for us now and always. Amen.
Fr. Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM.