Today salvation has come to this house

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C - 30th October 2022 

Gospel Luke 19: 1–10

Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town, when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost’.

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I let my mind and body settle gently, and without hurry. I become aware of God’s loving gaze on me, and ask the Holy Spirit to be beside me in my prayer, helping me to open my heart to whatever God wants me to hear today.

I may like to enter into this familiar story in my imagination. Perhaps I put myself in Zacchaeus’s shoes, desperately trying to get a better look at Jesus. Frustrated by the depth of the crowd, I scramble up into the branches of a tree to get a better view. I’ve been so longing to know more about this man, Jesus. How does it feel to hear him call me, as he notices me clinging to the branch? What joy fills my heart as Jesus says he must stay at my house?

Leaving Zacchaeus clambering down from the tree, I reflect on how it feels to know that Jesus sees me too, and desires to be with me in my house today and every day, regardless of how unworthy I might think I am.

Zacchaeus’s stature and the depth of the crowd prevent him from seeing Jesus. I reflect on this. What stands in the way of my relationship with Jesus? What can I do to get past that? Taking as long as I need, I talk to Jesus about this as one friend to another.

I draw my prayer to a close, thanking the Lord for his presence in whatever words feel right.

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

God be merciful to me, a sinner

 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C - 23rd October 2022

Gospel Luke 18: 9–14

Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else. ‘Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, “I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get.” The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

As I prepare to pray, I place myself in God’s loving care by relaxing my body and mind. I gently breathe in his love and goodness.

When I’m ready, I read the text slowly, a couple of times.

Aware that I, too, can at times embody the attitudes of both men in the parable, I may choose to consider the characters separately.

As I look at the Pharisee, I can ask myself on whether I focus on God, or on myself when I pray. In what way do I do this?

I ponder, too, on how I view others, and how they are part of my prayer.

Without judgement, I ask the Lord to help me look honestly at my attitude. I may wish to remain silent so that he can open my eyes.

I then consider the tax collector. Although a sinner, he confidently comes into God’s presence. Maybe I can spend time offering God my brokenness and relying on his mercy.

I speak to the Lord, allowing him to see my whole truth.

I may wish to give thanks for the witness of many humble people who may or may not be recognised in this world.

I remember those burdened by guilt, and place them in the hands of Jesus, friend of sinners. Perhaps I also wish to pray that I may not add to division between people.

I humbly end my prayer: ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’

Pray continually and never lose heart

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C - 16th October 2022

Gospel Luke 18: 1–8

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town’, he said, ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, ‘I want justice from you against my enemy!’ For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, ‘Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.’

And the Lord said, ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’

She kept coming to him...

Gospel reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

Before I begin to pray, I spend a few moments reflecting on my mood. Why have I come to speak to the Lord today? Is there something bothering me which I need to ask him about? Maybe it’s a recurring problem I keep bringing to him?

Whatever it is, I simply acknowledge it without judging, and turn my attention to the Gospel text. I read it slowly, then put it down and ponder.

In what ways does this parable have anything to do with my own life at the moment?

Maybe as I read the word ‘enemy‘, a particular face or name comes to my mind. I accept this, and tell the Lord about my relationship with this person or issue. Have I been repeatedly praying about this, or have I tried to deal with the problem on my own?

I consider Jesus’s promise of prompt justice. Maybe this will only become apparent to me with hindsight.

However I feel at the moment, I entrust the Lord with my worries about injustices around me and further afield.

I spend some time with Jesus’s last question: ’Will the Son of Man find any faith on earth?’ If I can, I let him know what I intend to do to help bring greater faith in the people I meet.

In time, I conclude my prayer with a slow sign of the cross.

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

Your faith has saved you

 Twenty-eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C - 9th October 2022

Luke 17: 11–19

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, “Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.”

When he saw them he said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice, and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, “Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.”And he said to the man, “Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”

...Praising God

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I spend some moments entering, once again, the stillness that is being offered to me through this time of prayer.

I might like to pray this text imaginatively. I ask for the help of the Holy Spirit. Then, I read the gospel and ‘enter it’ with my mind’s eye.

I see what is happening and hear what is being said: the reactions of the crowd, the desperation of the lepers, the ‘pity’ of Jesus.

What am I noticing?

What is it like for the ten to live as outcasts, on the edges of the villages, along the borders of places? Then, to be accepted by Jesus and caught up in the moments of being healed?

I watch the Samaritan move off with the other nine, then return joyfully to Jesus to give thanks. Before, he stood a long way off; now, he can throw himself at Jesus’s feet.

And how does Jesus feel to be remembered in that moment?

I reflect on my own spiritual life. What is my own experience of the compassion and mercy of God? Do I really perceive all life as coming from God’s goodness? Do I praise God only in joyful moments?

Can I also be grateful even in the midst of suffering?

I remain at the Lord’s feet for some time, listening to what he might be saying about my faith.

I end with a sign of the cross.

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

We are merely servants

 Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C - 2nd October 2022

Gospel Luke 17: 5–10

The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you.

‘Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep, would say to him when he returned from the fields, “Come and have your meal immediately?” Would they not be more likely to say, “Get my supper laid; make yourself tidy and wait on me while I eat and drink. You can eat and drink yourself afterwards”? Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told? So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty”.’

“Be uprooted and planted in the sea”

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

As I prepare for prayer, I place any concerns and desires into the Lord’s safe hands, so that I can focus all my attention on this time with him.

I may like to notice the gentle rhythm of my breathing.

In  me, I prayerfully read and re-read the Gospel passage slowly and carefully, letting the words soak in.

I notice where am I drawn. What words touch me? What images stay with me? Am I struggling with anything?

I ponder why this is.

Asking the Holy Spirit to guide me, I reflect on the gift of faith the Lord has given me. Perhaps there have been times when I have struggled to believe?

I give thanks for the example and support of those who have helped my faith to grow.

Maybe I notice Jesus’s final words to the apostles,

‘Say: “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty”.’ With gratitude, I ponder all the Lord has given me and done for me. Can I give and share of myself with joy, feeling good about ‘doing my duty’, rather than seeking approval or expecting special attention?

I speak to the Lord as a loving, caring friend about what arises.

Giving thanks, I ask God to deepen my faith and trust, and to help me grow in awareness of the trust placed in me.