FR. OLMAN’S HOMILY

07/29/2007

17 SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, CICLE C

Today’s readings express the intimacy of prayer to which God invites us.  The supreme response to our prayer is the gift of the Holy Spirit, making us more like Christ.  St. Paul defends his teaching against errors held among the Colossians.

The story of Abraham’s intercession on behalf of the condemned cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, again illustrates the place of Abraham in the work of God, as wee as the close friendship the two enjoyed.  The intimacy between God and Abraham has already begun the reversal of the fall, for they walk with each other as God used to walk with Adam, and God does not conceal from Abraham what his purposes are.  The story teaches us two things: the character of the God we serve, the author shows how God applies it with a fairness that will not destroy the just with the sinner.  The author shows the power of Abraham’s interventions with God.  that is a model of persevering prayer, humble and at the same time confident.

Like so many of the Churches founded by Paul, the community at Colossae is being harried by Jewish Christians.  These try to keep their brethren tied to the Jewish laws, symbolized by their circumcision.  Paul’s argument to the Colossians proceeds by stages.  He reminds them that when they came from paganism to Christ, they needed baptism.  They did not need a Jewish law.  Baptism was necessary because it welded them to Christ.  It brought them the effects of Christ’s death and resurrection.

The Jews were noted for their devotion to prayer. Formal prayer was prescribed for three set times a day. And the rabbis had a prayer for every occasion. It was also a custom for rabbis to teach their disciples a simple prayer they might use on a regular basis. Jesus' disciples ask him for such a prayer. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray he gave them the disciple's prayer, what we call the Our Father or Lord's Prayer. What does Jesus' prayer tell us about God and about ourselves? First, it tells us that God is both Father in being the Creator and Author of all that he has made, the first origin of everything and transcendent authority, and he is eternally Father by his relationship to his only Son who, reciprocally is Son only in relation to his Father. All fatherhood and motherhood is derived from him. In Christ we are reborn and become the adopted children of God.

Jesus teaches us to address God as "our Father" and to confidently ask him for the things we need to live as his sons and daughters. We can approach God our Father with confidence and boldness because Jesus Christ has opened the way to heaven for us through his death and resurrection. When we ask God for help, he fortunately does not give us what we deserve. Instead, he responds with grace and mercy. He is kind and forgiving towards us and he expects us to treat our neighbor the same. We can pray with expectant faith because our heavenly Father loves us and treats us as his children. He delights to give us what is good. His love and grace transforms us and makes us like himself. Through his grace and power we can love and serve one another as Jesus taught -- with grace, mercy, and loving-kindness. Do you treat others as they deserve, or do you treat them as the Lord would with grace and mercy? Jesus' prayer includes an injunction that we must ask God to forgive us in proportion as we forgive those who have wronged us. Are you ready to forgive as Jesus forgives?

What can we expect from God, especially when we recognize that he doesn't owe us anything and that we don't deserve his grace and favor? Jesus used the illustration of late-night guest to teach his listeners an important lesson about how God treats us in contrast to the kind of treatment we might expect from good neighbors. The rule of hospitality in biblical times required the cooperation of the entire community in entertaining an unexpected or late-night guest. Whether the guest was hungry or not, a meal would be served. In a small village it would be easy to know who had baked bread. Bread was essential for a meal because it served as a utensil for dipping and eating from the common dishes. Asking for bread from one's neighbor was both a common occurrence and an expected favor. To refuse to give bread would bring shame because it was a sign of inhospitality. If a neighbor can be imposed upon and coerced into giving bread in the middle of the night, how much more hospitable is God, who, no matter what the circumstances, is generous and gracious to give us what we need. In conclusion Jesus makes a startling claim: How much more will the heavenly Father give! The Lord is ever ready to give us not only what we need, but more than we can expect. He gives freely of his Holy Spirit that we may share in his life and joy. Do you approach your heavenly Father with confidence in his mercy and kindness?

We understand what prayer is by praying.  To pray means to enter into the mystery of communion with God who reveals himself to the soul in the richness of his infinite love.  It means to enter into Jesus’ heart in order to understand his feelings.

In this world we can say everything depends on God and also everything depends on us.  Everything depends on god because he is the first and only source of everything.  Everything also depends on us because man is free. 

In order to pray well, we must fulfill certain conditions:

1-     First of all prayer requires of us the exercise of God’s presence.

2-     A deep interior silence

3-     Pray with perseverance