Twenty-ninth Sunday
in Ordinary Time - Year C
October
16, 2016
Gospel: Lk 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity
for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in
a certain town who neither feared (1) God nor respected any human being. And
a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for
me against my adversary
(2).’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he
thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.’” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what
the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen
ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell
you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son
of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
http://www.usccb.org
The difficult words
(1)In the Bible, to fear the Lord doesn't mean that
we're afraid of him, but rather that we love him and do not want to displease
him.
(2) An adversary is an enemy.
This week’s spotlight
Sacred texts, Scripture, Gospels
The Bible is made up of seventy-three books. Their
authors were so inspired by God that the books are truly the word of God, the sacred Scriptures. We believe that
they contain everything we need to know in order to be saved. The four Gospels
are the sacred texts that speak of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The Liturgy of the Hours
All bishops, priests, deacons, and most consecrated
religious promise to pray “the Liturgy of the Hours” each day. The Liturgy of
the Hours is the official series of hymns, psalms, readings, and prayers
recited throughout the world. The various prayers are gathered together in a
book called a breviary. The various times of prayer throughout the day are
meant to keep the whole day holy, and to remind us that God is more important
than any of our work or other activities. Lay people are encouraged to join in
this “prayer of the Church.”
Reflection
Don't give up!
Maybe sometimes you wonder: “Can you hear me, Lord?”
Our faith tells us that God always hears. In the Gospel today, Jesus tells us
to be persistent and loyal in our prayer. He knows that our Father listens to
us when we speak to him. God is not like the judge who ignores the widow’s
request.
He loves us more than our best friends. So go ahead
and tell him of your concerns, your needs, and your requests. But be patient
and persistent! Deep within your heart, little by little, quietly, the Lord is
helping you to grow, to understand, and to love... Don’t wait till you need him
before speaking to him. He is calling you to a long-lasting friendship, a
friendship that renews itself each day, a friendship that will last for ever.
Discussion questions
1.What story does Jesus tell?
2.What is the judge like in the story?
3.What does the widow do?
4.Why does the judge finally decide to help the widow?
5.What does Jesus teach his followers about praying to God?
After
receiving Holy Communion,
you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you
have not yet
received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to
receive Jesus.
Father, through Jesus, in
communion with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. You
never give up on me, and always keep your promises. Help me to be a loyal
friend to you, to those I love, and to all the people of the world.
This week…
How do you pray?
Have you ever stopped to think
about how you pray? Do you ask for lots of things? Do you tell God you love
him? Do you ever thank him?
Pray for others
Have you noticed that very often
the things you ask for in prayer are mostly for you? This week, when you say
your daily prayer ask for things for someone around you or for someone in the
news who is suffering.
Crossword Puzzle
Source: usccb.org
- Magnifikid - sermons4kids.com – rclblectionary.com
–usccb.org/bible/readings-audio.cfm