PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER (HOMILY FOR THE 17TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR C

HOMILY FOR THE 17TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME OF YEAR C

Genesis 18:20-32; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13

PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER

In today's liturgy of the word, the Holy Mother Church guides us to reflect on the essentiality, necessity and efficacy of prayer. Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, are you a man or woman of prayer? Do you believe and understand the power of Prayer? Do you know that prayer provides answers? Do you know that prayer brings us into the mystery of communion with God? Do you know that through prayer you can intercede for others? Do you know that prayer can appease the heart of God? Do you know that prayer works miracles? Do you understand that with prayer you invite the Trinity into your life? Do you know that prayer helps you find direction in life? One who prays never gets lost. Do you know that prayer helps you surmount temptations in life? Are you aware that prayer helps you align your dispositions to the will of God? 

Friends in Christ, undeniable is the fact that Prayer for every Christian is a necessity and not simply an obligation because without prayer the Christian faith is weakened, lessened, and diminished; without prayer, our hearts are frightened and sickened because there is seemingly a disconnect from the grace of God; without prayer, our souls become like parched and barren land without water. 

The disciples based on their observation of Jesus as a man of prayer requested that he teaches them how to pray just as John taught his disciples. Generally, the Gospels recognize Jesus as a man of prayer. After his baptism, Luke narrates, that Jesus was at prayer when the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove (Lk 3:21-22). Before choosing the 12 apostles, Jesus went out to the mountain to pray (Lk 5:15-16). At Caesarea Philippi, Luke recorded that it was after praying alone, that Jesus asked the disciples the question “who do people say I am?” (Lk 9:18). The transfiguration was acknowledged as a moment of prayer (Lk 9:28). It is reported on many occasions that after Jesus has attended to the crowds either by preaching or by caring for the sick, he often withdraws to a lonely place to pray (Lk 5:12-13). At Gethsemane, he prayed (Mt 26:36-56). Close to his departure, he prayed for those he was about to leave behind (Jn 17). Consequently, Jesus isn't just a man of prayer but went ahead to educate his disciples that prayer brings us into the family of God who is our Father in heaven, reminding us that we are God's adopted children.

The Lord's prayer carries 6 petitions: 3 refer to God and 3 refer to us. 

1. Hallowed be your name: otherwise “Holy be your name”, invites us in prayer to admit that God is that supreme pure being without any atom of sin or depravity. Holiness means sacred, blameless, consecrated, etc The holiness of God is graciously acknowledged even in the first 3 commandments given by God to Moses, which require: not having any other god before Yahweh, not using the name of the Lord God in vain, and keeping holy the sabbath day. So prayer summons us not only to submit to God as all-holy but also as his children to live day by day a holy life. Remember “be holy as your heavenly Father is holy” (Mt 5:48, Lev 19:2, 1peter 1:15-16).

2. Your kingdom come: in prayer, Jesus taught us to recognize the kingship of God our Father and his heavenly kingdom. It reawakens in us the truth that we are not slaves nor servants but sons and daughters of God's kingdom of love. It reminds us also that we are not of this earthly kingdom but of the heavenly kingdom where the values of righteousness prevail.

3. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven: This flows from the above prayer petitions, seeking the establishment of the project, plans and purposes of God here on earth. It calls us to accomplish in our lives the will of God, just as St. Paul in his letter to the Roman 12:2 says “Adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world, but let your whole nature be transformed and your mind renewed, that you may discern the will of God, acceptable and perfect”. 

4. Give us this day our daily bread: Jesus teaches us that God cares for us. God is interested in our well-being. No wonder Jesus fed the hungry and cared for the sick etc (Lk 9:10-17, Lk 4:40). God's faithfulness is seen even in the resources with which nations are blessed; abundance of resources. The problem is the inequitable distribution of resources to meet the needs of all. Selfishness,  greed and avarice have engulfed the conscience of our leaders, therefore obstructing the flow of justice and charity. So this petition reminds us that all good gifts proceed from God and God will hold us accountable for the just usage of these gifts for humanity.

5. Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us: God is readily disposed to pardon our offences in as much as we do the same to our brothers and sisters when they offend us. God is interested in the reconciliation and mutual understanding that exist between brothers and sisters as a sign of our obedience to his commandments and proof of our love for him. He desires mercy, not sacrifice (Mt 9:13). This is why the sacrament of penance is available to us at all times to submit to the mercy of God and implore his graces to pardon the offences done against us.

6. Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil: we are reminded that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but principalities and powers in the dark places (Eph 6:12). Without the leadership and companionship of God, human strength is in vain. The Holy Spirit enlightens our hearts and minds to discern the ways of God, and through the scripture which serves as a lamp for our steps, we can avoid occasions of sin. So we need the grace of God to be able to surmount temptations and stand up strong in faith against the evil one.

Progressively, dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, Do you now understand the importance of prayer? St Paul writes: “Pray without ceasing” (1Thess 5:17). Jesus assures us in the Gospel reading that “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks the door will be open” (Lk 11: 9-10). Is there anything shielding you from being a man or woman of prayer? Joseph Marello tells us that “every time is an opportunity for us to begin anew”: “Nunc Cepi”

Abraham, on the other hand, in the first reading encourages us to be perseverant in prayer even when we intercede for others. Abraham pleaded with God to be merciful and patient over the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah if he finds some righteous persons in the towns. On repetitive requests by Abraham, God acknowledged that If he finds fifty, forty-five, forty, thirty, or even twenty righteous persons in the towns, He will not destroy the towns. Friends in Christ, this is synonymous with the parable of the wheat and the Tares (Mt 13:24-30). God (the farm owner) asked the servants not to uproot the weeds lest they uproot the wheat alongside. Rather, allow both to grow together until the time for harvest. Child of God, God does not delight even in the death of a wicked man but rather that they turn from their wicked ways and live (Ezekiel 33:11). Is there anything you have been praying for all these while and you feel you haven't received? My brother and sister in Christ, be perseverant and remain constant in prayer. The word of God tells us “pray always and never lose heart” (Lk 18:1). God listens to our prayers and his silence does not mean denial. 

We pray that the Holy Spirit may always enlighten our hearts and minds to understand the indispensability of prayer in our lives, and may God bless us with the grace of understanding, endurance and persistence in prayer even when things seemingly don't go our way. Amen

Happy Sunday to you all!

Fr Remi osj