30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Sir 35:12-14, 16-18
Ps 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23
2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18
Lk 18:9-14

Hello, I’m Franciscan Father Greg Friedman with the Sunday Soundbite for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Today's Gospel continues a series of Gospel reflections on prayer. Prayers of petition are usually the easiest to pray. My Franciscan community spends an extended time before we begin our evening meal together, and we pray out loud for a variety of intentions—our families, friends, our inner-city neighbors, the wider world around us. Sometimes the same intentions come week after week. We try to be patient in waiting for God to answer those prayers.

We often say that prayer doesn't change God; rather it changes us. Today's Gospel helps us appreciate that bit of wisdom. Our Gospel story is the parable of the two men who went to the temple to pray: One was filled with his own self-righteousness; the other humbly acknowledges his need.

Our prayers are often full of things we're asking for: needs we have or help for others. And that's OK: Jesus encourages us to pray prayers of petition. But today's parable helps us to see where we must first begin: with a change of heart. Coming before the Lord with our need, our sinfulness, our openness to God must be the starting point for our prayer. Since all prayer is first the work of the Holy Spirit in us, we can see how beginning our prayers in humility is already God working to change our hearts.

Scripture:

•…yet he hears the cry of the oppressed. (Sirach 35:13b)

•When the just cry out, the LORD hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. (Psalm 34:18)

•…but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, (2 Timothy 4:16)

•‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ (Luke 18:13b)

Reflection:

•Who are the oppressed?

•Who are the just?

•Who was deserted?

•Are we excused or engaged?

It is our belief that all suffering has come into this world as a result of sin. And the more sin that there is, the more suffering. Jesus is on his cross today again in the person of his brothers and sisters; the victims of injustice, the sick, the emotionally ill. Just as I could stand in front of the crucified Christ and say, “My sin has done this,” so I can stand before anyone who is suffering today and say, “My sin has done this.” That is why we confess our sin not only to God but to our brothers and sisters. It is not God alone that we hurt by our sin, but the whole mystical body.