(Genesis 20-32; Psalm 138; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13)
Our scriptures today are full of encouragement for us to pray to God for our needs and the needs of our neighbours. In the first reading from the Book of Genesis we hear Abraham earnestly pleading for any just men who happen to live in Sodom or Gomorrah. God listens to his pleadings and offers to relent on the planned punishment; if the required number of just men could be found. As we know the only ones saved from those cities were Abraham’s nephew and his daughters, there being no-one else found worthy of being saved by God. Abraham’s prayers for those cities were intercessions; we use intercessory prayers at Mass and during the prayers of the Church.
The responsorial psalm also highlights the success of intercessory prayer with the phrase ‘On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.’ The psalmist recognising that God acts based on our petitions and that God as The Creator can do anything, especially when those He loves, ask Him to.
In the Gospel today we hear the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray. Jesus gives them the words of the Our Father, teaching them and us to call God our Father. I will come back to the words of the Our Father later, but to continue on the theme of intercessory prayer; Jesus encourages us to ask the Father for our needs, especially if we are asking for the Holy Spirit to come into our lives. He emphasises that the Holy Spirit is the greatest of gifts; by previously describing the everyday needs that ‘evil’ people give as good gifts.
I read an article earlier this week on Facebook from James Terna[1] who described a free for all at a reception a few years ago. This free for all resulted in people fighting over the food available, leaving many of the smaller members of that community hungry. James reflected that when God heard the cry of the Israelites in the desert, he made a rule, they were to take only what they needed that day. This was to prevent some taking more than they needed and to ensure that everyone received their need. God also made what was left spoil overnight so that the people had to trust that God would provide again the next day.
James also asked his readers to reflect on why people are hungry in the world today when there is enough food for everyone? Why are people homeless whilst there are empty houses? And why do children die from simple disease when medicines are stored in warehouses? This is only too evident when we see the pictures coming out of Gaza this week of children starving to death and those who are fit enough and brave enough to go to the food collection points scrambling for the meagre portions which might keep their family alive, whilst trying to avoid being attacked or murdered when doing so.
James quoted Mahatma Gandhi who said, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.” As someone with a weight problem I know I contribute to that. While we in the west look for ways to lose weight, those in the developing world are starving to death.
James suggests that even in our prayer life we can be greedy, asking for blessings that we would struggle to use. In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches us to ask God for our daily bread, not our weekly, nor our monthly bread, nor a lifetime’s supply. James says just today’s portion, enough to sustain us while we trust in God for the next day.
How much do we trust in God for our day-to-day needs?
This Sunday, being the Sunday closest to the feast day of St Joachim and St Anne is the fifth World Day for Grandparents and the elderly. In his first message for this day, Pope Leo says that the elderly are signs of hope and cites Abraham, Sarah, Zachariah, Elizabeth and Moses as Biblical references of hope. But he also says “Every parish, association and ecclesial group is called to become a protagonist in a “revolution” of gratitude and care, to be brought about by regular visits to the elderly, the creation of networks of support and prayer for them and with them, and the forging of relationships that can restore hope and dignity to those who feel forgotten. Christian hope always urges us to be more daring, to think big, to be dissatisfied with things the way they are. In this case, it urges us to work for a change that can restore the esteem and affection to which the elderly are entitled.”
As a Parish and Pastoral area, we need to ensure that the elderly are not excluded. Every parishioner has a role to play in making sure our older brothers and sisters are not forgotten about. Some of them are still very active in our Parish family, but what of those we don’t see very often nowadays? I’m sure they would welcome a phone call or a visit to just check in with them on how they are doing. This would be a start in making Pope Leo’s plan come to fruition. I would welcome any other ideas too. So why not have a chat with me after Mass or some time soon!.
Further Reading
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
CCC 2634-2636: prayer of intercession
CCC 2566-2567: universal call to prayer
CCC 2761-2772: the Lord’s Prayer as a synthesis of Gospel
CCC 2609-2610, 2613, 2777-2785: turning to God with persistence and filial trust
CCC 2654: lectio divina
CCC 537, 628, 1002, 1227: buried and risen in baptism
Chapter five of Pope Benedict XVI’s book “Jesus of Nazareth” – The Lord’s Prayer
James Terna’s article in full https://www.facebook.com/groups/St.Therese.English/permalink/10163502679496774/
Please keep in your prayers this week
- Those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, that the care they receive matches all of their needs.
- Those waiting for the results of medical tests, examinations or scans, that the results can pinpoint the treatment they may need; or alleviate their fears.
- Our Pastoral Area as we continue to take the first steps towards moving from Maintenance to Mission.
- Peace in the world, and a de-escalation of the situations where war has already commenced or appears to be inevitable.
- All the clergy in our diocese who have agreed to take up new responsibilities from September onwards and those still discerning.
- For the ongoing success of the Alpha programme
- Ryan Brown who was ordained to the priesthood last weekend Emmanuel Chitu & Richard Martin due to be ordained to the permanent diaconate this weekend.
- That a way to feed the starving in Gaza can be found that is fair and does not pose a danger to those who are starving or the aid workers.
- Reuben, Zion, Elena and Akwasi who are being baptised this weekend at St Bede’s.
Deacon Tony
25th July 2025.
[1] https://www.facebook.com/groups/St.Therese.English/permalink/10163502679496774/