17th Sunday in Ordinary Time C
Genesis 18:20-32, Psalm 137:1-3, 6-8, Rv.3, Colossians 2:12-14,
I am bold to speak, I who am dust and ashes.
On the day I called, you answered me O God.
He has brought you to live with him. He has forgiven us all our sins.
Lord teach us to pray.
Luke 11:1-13.
1 Now it happened that he was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.' 2 He said to them, 'When you pray, this is what to say: Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; 3 give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, 4 for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.' 5 He also said to them, 'Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, "My friend, lend me three loaves, 6 because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him;" 7 and the man answers from inside the house, "Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up to give it to you." 8 I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it to him for friendship's sake, persistence will make him get up and give his friend all he wants. 9 'So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asked for a fish, would hand him a snake? 12 Or if he asked for an egg, hand him a scorpion? 13 If you then, evil as you are, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!'
Our Father who is in heaven
“No one knows the Father except the Son.” How many people are afraid of God! We even say: ‘I will put the fear of God into you’ and we mean “I will make you do what you are told out of fear of a worse punishment’.
Jesus came to tell us what God is like. He is our ‘Father’ – fortunately not like any father we know on earth even the best. We use the word ‘father’ because we have no other word. We come from Him. He is our Creator. He is a Creator who loves each of his creatures. He loved us so much that He was willing to send His only Son to live among us and allow him to die for us. Our God is not one who looks out to punish us for our sins. Rather he allows his own Son to die on the cross instead of us. When you look at Jesus hanging on the cross, you see the true God of the universe. He gives himself to us till he can give no more. Now he hangs by the nails, dead and limp. He is a mighty God who is helpless because his love refuses to force or threaten. He only appeals. His dead body is the Father’s appeal to us to come home. What is the welcome for us if we return? Jesus described his Father’s welcome in the parable of the lost son: while he was a long way off his father saw him. He was moved with compassion and running out he fell on his neck and kissed him. Then he called his servants and said: bring out the best robe, put a ring on his fingers and shoes on his feet and let us make a banquet for my son. This is our Father to whom Jesus invites us to pray.
We like small children are ignorant of how to pray and what to pray for. Like a child we may beg for a snake or a scorpion when our Father knows we need a fish or an egg. Our Father knows what we really need and will always provide for his children who rely upon him. He will give them the greatest gift he can: His Holy Spirit. If we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God then we will lack nothing.
God told us: I will never forget you, see I have written your name on the palms of my hand. Paul tells us he knew you and chose you before the universe came into being. Jesus told us: your heavenly Father knows you need food and clothing and he wants to give you these and his Kingdom as well.
How do you see God? Have you discovered the true God whom Jesus revealed to us? Like a small child do you have complete trust in your loving Father-God to provide everything you need?
Father, grant that through your only Son Jesus I may come to know you.
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