Reflection: Luke 11:1-4

Luke 11:1-4

“Lord, teach us to pray!” These words are simple yet very powerful. Many of us learned to pray when we were young children. We learned the Hail Mary, Our Father and other prayers. As we matured, the prayer forms that were meaningful to us as children gradually may become “rote” prayers.

As adults, we may need to explore other prayer forms that possibly could be meaningful to us at this stage in our lives. The Hail Mary, Our Father, etc., most likely will still be a meaningful form of prayer. However our lives may be enhanced by trying a different way of praying periodically. It may open us to experiencing new facets of God!

Today may we also say to Jesus: “Lord, teach us to pray!” Then may we have open, listening minds and open hearts!

Reflection: Luke 10:38-42

Luke 10:38-42

The characters in today’s Gospel are very familiar to us: Martha, Mary and Jesus. We know the scene well. Jesus has come to visit Martha and Mary. When Jesus arrives, Martha begins to prepare a meal for Jesus. While Martha was busy in the kitchen, Mary made him comfortable and then sat down to visit with him.

However Martha got very upset with Mary because she was “slacking off!” She was not helping Martha prepare the meal. Instead Mary just sat there and talked with Jesus while Martha fumed!

Each of us has a “Martha” and a “Mary” within us no matter what our gender may be. The natures of these two women mirror the personalities of many of us. As we grow up, we naturally begin to develop more “Martha- like” characteristics or “Mary-like” characteristics. Who knows why.

We all know both men and women who tend to be more like Martha. And we also know

others who tend to be more like Mary. It is normal that the “Martha’s” and “Mary’s” get on one another’s nerves at times since they approach situations in very different ways. But what a gift it is when we are able to recognize and appreciate one another’s strengths and gifts.

God is creative and God made each of us “one of a kind.” Today may we give thanks for the many unique and beautiful people in our lives! And also give thanks for our own beauty and uniqueness!

Reflection: Luke 10:25-37

Luke 10:25-37

The Gospel for today is a familiar one. It begins with a scholar of the law testing Jesus. The scholar asks Jesus what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus fires a question back at him and asks the scholar what the law says. The man replies correctly: “You should love God wholeheartedly and also love your neighbor.” Jesus agreed that he replied correctly.

The scholar however is not satisfied with his answer. He then asks Jesus another question: “who is your neighbor?” Once again Jesus does not answer him directly. Rather Jesus describes a scenario in which a man who was traveling alone was robbed, beaten and left for dead on the roadside. Eventually a priest came by, ignored him and continued on his way. Later a Levite (a holy man) came along. He also made it a point to “pass by on the other side of the road.” He did not want to be contaminated by this unclean man. Then a while later a Samaritan came along. The Samaritans were a people despised by many of the Jews because they were a “mixed society” with both Jewish and pagan ancestry. Yet it was this “despised man” who stopped and cared for the injured man. He even took him to an inn and paid for him to be nursed back to health! His actions clearly spoke of his “love of neighbor!”

In today’s world most of us are cautioned to be careful — especially with strangers. And to a degree this is good advice. However, in today’s Gospel Jesus tells us to reach out and care for those who are in need—despite their race, religion, or political opinions!

Today may we open our eyes, mind and heart to someone who is in need and do what we can to care for them. May we have the eyes of Jesus and “see” every person as he does — one of God’s beloved!

Reflection: Matthew 21:33-43

Matthew 21:33-43

Today’s Gospel reading is a bit of a “downer.” It is the parable of the landowner who leased his vineyard to tenants and then went on a journey. After a period of time the landowner sent his servants back to check on the tenants and to get his share of the crops. However, when the servants arrived, the tenants attacked one servant, killed the second one and stoned the third servant. When the landowner heard this horrible news, he sent more servants but the tenants treated them in the same manner. Then the landowner sent his son. He thought they surely would respect the authority of his son. This was not the case. Instead the tenants killed his son and took possession of the vineyard!

What a familiar story this is. In the past centuries our world has not changed much. Yes, we have advanced technologically, we live longer and we have a better standard of living. Yet we continue to alienate, hurt and kill one another. We negotiate peace in one country and conflict breaks out in another. What is wrong with our human community? Why do we continue to hurt, maim and kill one another?

There is so much violence and conflict in our world that it often feels that it is beyond my ability to change or influence the situation. And in some many ways it is true. Neither you nor I have the power to stop all the violence that is happening in the world. However, there is something we can do: each day we can strive to be women and men of peace. This may seem like a small thing to do. However, this is where peace has to begin: in the hearts of each one of us! Today may we begin!

Reflection: Luke 10:17-24

Luke 10:17-24

Today’s Gospel opens with the 72 disciples of Jesus returning from a journey. Jesus had sent them out to preach and teach his message. They came back excited and very anxious to tell him about all the wonders they worked. Even the demons had obeyed them!

After Jesus listens to their stories, he makes it clear to them that it was not their ability that enabled them to heal the sick or to drive out demons. Rather, it was the grace and power of God!!

Jesus further cautions the disciples that they should be joyful but not because of their power to heal. Jesus wanted his followers to realize that they were very blessed. Jesus wanted them to know that the power was not their power or ability. It was God’s power working through them that enabled them to work these miracles! Without God they would have no power!

At times in our lives we may become focused on “what we do” and “how well we do it.” At these times do we stop and acknowledge that it is God’s power working through us? Or do we take the credit for it? When we have we done “a good work,” it is natural for us to feel good. However, we need to remember that it is God who is working in us and through us! Today may we remember to give the credit to our generous God!

Reflection: Luke 10:13-16

Luke 10:13-16

Today’s Gospel is the “woe to you” gospel. Jesus is berating the Pharisees for their lack of openness to him and to his message. Even before Jesus began to preach the Pharisees had tried, judged and condemned him.

Most of us, if not all of us, have a “Pharisee” within us. “Judging” others seems to be part of our human condition. Often I am not even aware of the judgments I am making about others. It happens so automatically. I may judge them on what they say, how they act or what they believe. At these times I am being the Pharisee! Yet who am I to judge? Yet we all do it! And we do not like it when others judge us.

Today perhaps Jesus is reminding us to be mindful. He may be asking us to be attentive not only to how and when we “judge” others but also to how we judge ourselves. We often are pretty vicious in judging ourselves. Today when we become aware that we are “judging” another or ourselves, may we pause, take a deep breath and deliberately let go of our judgment! Today may we strive to have the mind and heart of Jesus!

Reflection: Matthew 18:1-5,10

Matthew 18:1-5, 10

“Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” the disciples ask Jesus. If you notice, Jesus doesn’t answer their question directly. Rather he answers in a roundabout way.

Jesus must have astounded his disciples by telling them that if they truly want to be the “greatest” then they need to become like children. What was Jesus really saying? Was he telling them to be childish or child-like? Or was he encouraging them to cultivate the qualities that most children have: being inquisitive, innocent and trusting?

One of the greatest gifts children give to us is their trust. And they give it so freely and naturally. Imagine what the world could be if everyone was as innocent, trusting and as loving as children are. How would our world be different if all of us on the planet were filled with goodness and kindness? Today may we consciously strive to “be like children!” May we nurture and emulate the wonderful qualities of love and appreciation that are so natural to them!

Reflection: Luke 9:57-62

Luke 9:57-62

In today’s Gospel we see the enthusiastic response of an individual to Jesus’s preaching. This person was so enraptured by Jesus that s/he was ready to immediately leave home and family and become Jesus’s disciple. However, when Jesus tells the person what “following him” would entail (leaving home and family), the individual responds with many reasons why it would be impossible for her/him to follow Jesus. The reasons and responsibilities they had were very real. They had families to support and other responsibilities to take care of.

Think back: can you remember a time in your life when you were so “on fire” for Jesus and his message that you were ready to “give your all” to Jesus? At these times, our desire and plan to “give our all” to follow Jesus is very real. Then the reality of life intrudes. There is not enough time and we have too many responsibilities! Guess what happens?

Often it is impossible for us to follow Jesus as we initially “thought” we would do. It doesn’t mean that we have changed our minds and hearts. Perhaps we need to think of it differently. Jesus might be asking us to follow him by going about our regular daily responsibilities with greater love and care. Or we may find ourselves ministering to someone who needs a friend to listen to them. There are many different ways to follow Jesus and all of them are good! Today how is Jesus calling you?