...Even if someone should rise from the dead

 Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C - 25th September 2022

Gospel Luke 16: 19–31 (abridged)

Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.

‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames”. “My son,” Abraham replied, “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony.’ ... The rich man answered, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too.” “They have Moses and the prophets,” said Abraham, “let them listen to them.” “Ah no, father Abraham,” said the rich man, “but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Then Abraham said to him, “If they will not listen either to Moses or the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.”’

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

As I settle for prayer, I trust that God is here, around me, within me, in every breath I take. I pause ... then focus my attention on my breathing, following each in and out breath, deepening my awareness of God’s life- giving presence.

When I am still enough for prayer, I read the Gospel passage slowly, a few times, until I become familiar with it.

I imagine hearing Jesus share this parable with me as if for the first time. What compassionate message does Jesus want me to hear?

What do I feel as I listen to his teaching?

Where do I see injustice in my own life, and how am I responding to it? Is God inviting me to do more?

I talk to Jesus as I would to a trusted friend, and ask him for the grace to always act with justice and compassion in all that I do.

I close my prayer by praying with Jesus, Our Father ...

Click here to read or listen to an One-Minute Homily on today's Gospel from the Jesuit Post

No servant can be the slave of two masters

Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord
And let light perpetual shine upon her.

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C - 18th September 2022

Gospel Luke 16: 1–13 (part)

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Those who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; those who are dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?

‘No servant can be the slave of two masters: they will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.’

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

As I come to this time of prayer, I ask for God’s blessing. I may use my own words, or perhaps I pray, ‘Lord, I ask your blessing on my wounds and my distractions ... your blessing to help me become more deeply present to you in my prayer  me, and more aware of you through this day.’

Once I have slowed down enough to allow God to speak to me, I read this challenging text slowly (whether this short extract or the full version).

I take time to allow my faith to be nurtured through this contact with scripture and the teaching of Jesus.

As I read the passage again, perhaps I ponder what wise, prudent use of money and material possessions means in my own life.

What is my relationship with money?

Where is my attachment to it and where is my freedom?

I ask for the grace to deepen my self-awareness, and the personal freedom to make wise choices in the great and little things of my own life.

I speak with Jesus about whatever feelings and insights arise.

I pray to wake up to the genuine riches that Christ is offering me today. Perhaps the courage to see my community, my church more clearly ...? or the humility to depend on and love God even more...?

or the generosity to share all of my gifts more freely...?

Or maybe there are other genuine riches the Lord desires to share with me. I reflect on whatever comes to my awareness.

I may end with a time of quiet contemplation, simply resting in the silent mystery of the Creator. I try to listen with tranquil attention ... yielding to God’s action and presence.

When ready, I slowly end my prayer, glorifying God.

Click here to read or listen to a One-Minute Homily on today's Gospel from the Jesuit Post

 Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time,  Year C - 11th September 2022

Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord
And let light perpetual shine upon her.

Today's Gospel 

Luke 15: 1–32 (part)

The tax collectors and the sinners, meanwhile, were all seeking Jesus’s company to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’, they said, ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:

‘Who among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” he would say, “I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.

‘Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” she would say “I have found the drachma I lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’

Gospel reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I take time to become still, feeling the warmth of God’s loving gaze on me as I offer this time in prayer.

I read through the text a couple of times, and then enter into the scene in my imagination. Where do I  find myself? Do I, like the scribes and Pharisees, find it hard to recognise my sinfulness and my need for repentance? Or do I readily accept my place among the sinners, and strive to move closer to Jesus as he relates the two parables?

What does Jesus want me to hear? The parables both describe searching for and  finding things that have been lost. What things in my life are so precious that I’d go to such lengths to find them? What am I striving for? For what do I need to ask God’s help? ... guidance? ... light?

Am I bringing the realities of my life to the Lord in my prayer, trusting totally in God and letting the Lord work through me, or are there aspects that I avoid facing up to?

I listen to Jesus describe the joy of finding what is lost. and I ponder what it is that brings joy to my life.

I share my thoughts and feelings with the Lord, and close with the prayer I am most drawn to.

Click here for a One-Minute Homily on today's Gospel from the Jesuit Post

If anyone comes to me...

 Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time,  Year C - 4th September 2022

Gospel Luke 14: 25–33

Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them.

‘If anyone comes to me without hating their father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and their own life too, they cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry their cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

‘And indeed, which of you here intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if you had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if you had laid the foundation and then found yourself unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of you, saying, “Here is someone who started to build and was unable to finish.” Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand he could stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand? If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless you give up all your possessions.’

Intending to build a tower...
Image by Dimitris Vetsikas from Pixabay 

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I come to my place of prayer and take the time to relax, to breathe gently; aware of being in God’s presence. I ask for God’s Spirit to pray within me and give me the courage to enter into this Gospel.

Jesus is spelling out the cost of discipleship. How do I receive his words?

Do they discourage me, or can I think of occasions when his grace has carried me through tough times?

Or perhaps I recall situations when he has sent others to give me support? I speak to him, maybe asking him to fill me with his love, so that I can respond. What do I feel is his response?

I consider that the Lord calls me every day. What is my great passion in life?

How do the two parables throw light on my commitments?

I remind myself that Jesus invites me to follow him and wishes me to be fully aware of the radical demands of discipleship. I spend time asking him to show me the way, in freedom of heart.

I end my prayer thanking the Lord for showing his great love by taking the way of the cross for me.

Click here to read or listen to a One-Minute Homily on today's Gospel from the Jesuit Post