Friend

Today’s Gospel Text:  And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:5-13

Reflection: So goes the saying; “a friend in need is a friend indeed.”

Friends can be of great help, especially in times and situations where relatives cannot reach us.

A friend always understands us better unlike close relatives. Unlike good friends relationship with close relatives carry a whole lot of family hurts and sensitivities which makes sharing difficult; though this is no excuse, for us, not to reach out to our relatives when in need.

Here in the gospel we have a beautiful example of one friend reaching out to another friend seeking the help of a third friend, all done to make one rightly comfortable; food for the stomach is more important than sleep. which good friend should not be willing to sacrifice their sleep in order to cater to this need?

Jesus presents to us God as our friend, who cares and loves us and even reaches out to us. He is a God of all providence. Despite the many blocks and obstacles we have in our lives he still answers us.

The greatest revelation about God, given to us by Jesus is the attitude required of the one who supplicates; an attitude of Faith and confidence, manifested by perseverance and importunity.

They who ask in faith or seeks or Knocks will find a sure answer with the one with whom all things are possible.

But do not forget to ask for the greatest and the best thing that one could ever ask for; the Holy Spirit.

For without the help of the Holy Spirit we will lack confidence and may never know whom to ask for bread and whether our friend has enough bread to provide for our need. 

Prayer: Lord God, you are more than a friend to us, give me the help of your Holy Spirit to ask all those things that glorifies you.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Prayer Tradition

Today’s Gospel Text: He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 2 And he said to them, "When you pray, say: "Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread; 4 and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation." 5 And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" 14 Now he was casting out a demon that was dumb; when the demon had gone out, the dumb man spoke, and the people marveled. Luke 11:1-14

Reflection: "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." (vs. 1)

Many of our Catholics do not know how to pray. They may pray and pray and yet they do not know how to pray the way God wants us to pray. They will only stick to by heart prayers or the Lord’s Prayer and would not go further on to communicate with the living God, who longs to relate with this his children.

Some of them even join the seminary and become priests, still not knowing how to pray and what to pray.

As compensation, in eastern countries like India, they are introduced to eastern meditational techniques as if these abstracts techniques are prayer methods.

Some of them may even use the name of Jesus and deceitfully compare them with sound Catholic writings and traditions. Yet in no way can it be called Christian in the authentic sense of the term.

No one can call himself a successor of the Apostle if they do not carry on this tradition and teach the flock how to relate to God in prayer in the authentic Catholic tradition. They can only be termed as imposters and shepherds who come to steal, kill and destroy. (cfr.Jn. 10:10) 

  

“This is why it is a fundamental task of pastoral care to teach people how to pray and how to learn to do so personally, better and better. Today, schools of prayer and prayer groups exist; it is obvious that people want them. Many seek meditation elsewhere because they think that they will not be able to find a spiritual dimension in Christianity. We must show them once again not only that this spiritual dimension exists but that it is the source of all things.” (ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI Thursday, 9 November 2006, to the Bishops of Switzerland)

The importance of prayer is seen in the great tradition revealed in scripture; “as John taught his disciples” (vs. 1c). So the tradition did not start with Jesus but existed even before him and continues approvingly with the dedicated disciples of Jesus, even to this day.

Every true servant of the Kingdom, no matter how active they may be, is so by virtue of their proximity with God in prayer and passes on the same tradition to their disciples.

Prayer: Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his disciples (Lk. 11: 1)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Noble Profession

Today’s Gospel Text: Now as they went on their way, he entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; 42 one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

Reflection: For the world the noblest profession could be to be a doctor or a lawyer or that which earns big money.

In the the kingdom of God the noblest work is to preach and teach and for the many, to hear and listen to God’s word. 

What makes the preacher or teacher, well versed with the things of the kingdom, different from the noblest of professions in the world?

A person who is well versed in the kingdom teaches eternal values, which are lasting and whose glory, power and shine never fades away. They are there to last forever and likewise lead the listener to the eternity of God’s presence, beginning with a sound relationship, here on earth, with the creator of all things.

A teacher in the world may train his or her student the survival techniques of life and educates a person towards self sustenance and sound character, which in turn is often subject to values that the world sees as truth.

In the absence of the grace and wisdom which Christ offers these values become redundant in many cases of formation.

It is also a work which involves the great risk of rejection, persecution and trials, if done diligently with sincerity and faithfulness.

Whereas the job of a servant of the kingdom, is necessitated by the fact that we are surrounded by a darkness which makes it impossible for us to access the truth of God, unless God opens it out to us through these preachers and teachers, assisted by the Holy Spirit. 

Thus they are called to be light of the world and salt of the earth (Mt. 5: 13-160)

Prayer: Lord, help me see your wisdom in the appointing of preachers and teachers, so that I may hold these true servants of the faith in high honor for my own salvation.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us