Spirituality - Reflection of the Week

July 25-31

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Today's readings paint a picture of who God is: just, intimate, transcendent, and forgiving. In the first reading, God, portrayed with human limitations, reveals that the innocent would never be destroyed with the guilty. The lesson: God is just.

In the Gospel story Jesus teaches the disciples (and us) how to pray. He addresses God as Father-Abba (meaning "Daddy") Jesus wants us to have an intimate and tender relationship with the Father. At the same time, God is totally "other", the holy one who is to be adored and glorified, the transcendent One. We acknowledge this in the words: "hallowed be Thy name". This just, intimate, and transcendent Being is also forgiving. As our sins are forgiven by God, so we must forgive anyone who has sinned against us.

Jesus then reminds the disciples (and us) that our needs will be met by this loving "Daddy", if we only ask. He then shares two vignettes to describe this utterly unbelievable generosity.

So how do these teachings apply to our daily lives? Recently a friend of mine, dealing with unemployment, no financial resources, a fractured family structure, and receiving treatment for stage 3 cancer complained in desperation, "This isn't fair. I try to be so kind to others, and look what I get in return". And in the next breath, she shared how others were helping her out in various ways. An intimate, tender God was at work in the hearts of others who could reach out to my friend. Life isn't fair. Yet goodness is given to those who ask (or persist).

Sometimes, our human lives are entangled in relationships that wound us. We can harbor resentment and bitterness, or we can remember the tender heart of our God toward us and we in turn can forgive the other.

How do you pray? As conversation? Listening? Confessing? Just being present with?

PRAYER: "Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name..."

July 18-24

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

As I read these Scriptures for today, they spoke loudly of WELCOME. Abraham welcomes the visitors. Martha welcomes Jesus. Each prepares a feast for the guests and invites them to be in their homes.

What made it so easy for them to reach out in welcome? I believe the spirit of welcome existed in them because the Lord was present in them.

Each night as I prepare for sleep, I invite God to cover me with a blanket that is filled with love, care, concern, hospitality, compassion, acceptance, etc. I imagine that all these wonderful gifts are seeping into me so that the next day I will be able to give these gifts to the people with whom I come in contact.

Abraham and Martha had to be filled with the wonderful gifts of God to respond so immediately to others. Pray for the Lord to be present in you so you can share these wonderful gifts with others.