Reflections
for Sunday, July 25, 2010
Let us persevere in asking the Lord to transform us. Today's readings, all
of them, are such a clear teaching about the value of continuing to pray
for what we really need, even when it may not be given to us immediately.
The first reading, from the Book of Genesis, is filled with humor. It
also teaches us so much about our God. This is a God who loves us
passionately and uses the least bit of goodness on our side to give us even
more love. This is a God who is always willing to be spoken to. Although
it is expressed in human ways, this is a God who wants to forgive us over
and over and over. This God wants to overlook our transgressions the
minute we turn to Him. It looks as if only that which is totally evil
cannot be redeemed and given God's divine life.
The second reading, from the Letter to the Colossians repeats this same
lesson: Jesus is the one truly good man and through one man alone
salvation has been given to the whole world. We are invited to be part of
that one man. We have become one with Jesus through baptism. No matter if
we find ourselves still somehow enmeshed in darkness and sin, we can
remember that we have been made one with Him. He will save us—let us call
on Him.
The Gospel is another description of prayer for us. The Our Father is
easy enough, even though we could spend the rest of our lives just
meditating this one text. Jesus goes on, however, with stories to tell us
about persevering in prayer. The moral of the story is that we can wear
God down, just as Moses did in the first reading. We just have to keep
asking until we wear the Lord out and He finally gives us what we need.
Why do we have to keep asking? Because we often ask for things that we
don't really need. When we really need something, we will keep asking for
it. If we don't persevere in our prayer, then we think that what we are
asking for is not all that important in our lives.
May we come to know the importance of living in God each day and find it
so important that we pray for it always.
Readings of the day:
First Reading:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
| |
Reflections are available for the following Sundays:
|