17th Sunday in Ordinary Time(Cycle C, Year I)

Community Word:Disciples of Christ are empowered to proclaim the Good News.

Theme:Disciples of Christ are empowered when they persistently intercede for others.

Promise:“For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Lk 11:10)

Reflection:
The theme for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time says: Disciples of Christ are empowered when they persistently intercede for others. This reminds us that a very significant aspect of the life of being a disciple of Christ is having a prayer life, and more importantly, praying for others. There are many ways to show our love of neighbor, and one of the more powerful way is interceding on behalf of other people and praying for their needs. Praying for our own needs and petitions is not enough. We need to develop the habit of praying for others, and praying for them in a persistent manner. As good Christians, praying for others help someone receive his blessings, be healed of afflictions he is suffering, break the bondage of addictions, and bring renewal to those who are praying to be changed. As we pray for others, God will cause others to pray for us as well.

The first Christian communities lived in this form of fellowship – praying intensely together and praying for each other. St. Paul did not only give them a share of his ministry of preaching the Gospel, but he also interceded for them. Christian intercession recognizes no boundaries. We pray for everyone – our family and friends, people in high places, people in church and in government, our persecutors, our enemies, and even those who reject the Gospel.

In the Gospel, Jesus narrates a parable on how persistency pays off. It is in the persistence of the man knocking at his neighbor’s door during bedtime that finally persuades the owner to relent and give in to the request of the man. Jesus wants us to recognize God’s nature in answering our pleas and supplications raised to Him in consistent and persistent way. He says: “…ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you,” (Lk 11:9). And as we do, He promises us: “For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Lk 11:10)

In the first reading, we see a situation how God is never impatient with our untiring supplications even if we pray for the same thing day in and day out. Abraham without hesitation pleads with God not to destroy Sodom if there are 50 righteous people there. He continued to bargain with God to spare Sodom if there are 40, 30, 20 and finally 10. And the Lord God, said say in every instance. He did not find 10 but fulfilled Abraham’s plea by sparing Lot and his family. What is impossible for man, all things are possible for God. Jesus tells us again: “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Lk 11:13).

Here is a story of how the persistent prayer of a mother saved the soul of her son:
As a teenager, I was exposed to many dangers and near death experiences. I was so attached to my gang that I never missed being with them except when I was sick. In one instance that I was sick, there was a violent ramble among gangs from different schools that resulted in severe injuries to my gang mates. In many instances that I was not around, these gang rambles occurred, sparing me from hurt. In another incident, a gunshot was fired directly at us which narrowly missed me, sparing me from injury, but hit the person next to me. When I joined the renewal, a counsellor told me that I was saved from harm because of my mother’s intercession. I vividly remember my mother doing her daily prayers by walking on her knees from the door of the Redemptorist church to the altar, which she did without fail. It was her supplication that I would be safe from danger and be reformed from being a gang member. This is a testimony of how the power of intercession can move mountains and change the life of a person who is now actively serving God in community.

Prayer:
Almighty Father, thank you for making us aware that we must be steadfast in our prayers, especially in praying for our needs and the needs of others. Thank you for Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who continues to intercede for us. Even at the point of death on the cross, He prayed to You to forgive us for not knowing what we have done. Truly, You are a magnanimous God who always remembers His children even if we are unworthy sinners. Grant us the grace to come to You in repentance that our supplications and our pleas will find favor in Your forgiving and generous heart. Amen

Reflection Guide Questions:
1. How often do you pray and intercede for others? When you pray, do you remember to include the petitions of other people who need our prayers the most?

2. In your prayer life, how are you blessed when you continue to pray for others? Share an experience when your own prayers were answered because you prayed for someone.

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
July 28, 2019 (Sun)- Gn 18:20-32/Ps 138:1-3, 6-8/Col 2:12-14/Lk 11:1-13
July 29, 2019 (Mon) – Ex 32:15-24, 30-34/Ps 106:19, 20-23/Jn 11:19-27
July 30, 2019 (Tue) – Ex 33:7-11; 34:5-9, 28/Ps 103:6-9, 10-13/Mt 13:36-43
July 31, 2019 (Wed) – Ex 34:29-35/Ps 99:5-7, 9/Mt 13:44-46
August 1, 2019 (Thu) – Ex 40:16-21, 34-38/Ps84:3-6, 8, 11/Mt 13:47-53
August 2, 2019 (Fri) – Lv 23:1,4-11,15,16,27,34-37/Ps 81:3,4,5,6,10,11/Mt 13:54-58
August 3, 2019 (Sat) – Lv 25:8-17/Ps 67:2, 3, 5, 7, 8/Mt 14:1-12

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”