Let’s look at some of the main themes in the readings for the 17th Sunday of the Year.
1st Reading – Genesis 18:20-32
The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are filled with grave sin, causing God to consider their destruction.
Abraham “bargains” with God, securing the Lord’s promise that if only 10 innocent people are still living in the city of Sodom it will not be destroyed.
Psalm – 138:1-3,6-8
“Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.”
God’s mercy protects the humble who seek God in prayer and daily practice.
2nd Reading – Colossians 2:12-14
Through baptism Christians die and rise with Jesus.
It is the Cross of Christ that frees us from our sins.
Gospel – Luke 11:1-13
Jesus teaches the Lord’s Prayer to the disciples (slightly shorter than the one found in Matthew 6:9-13.)
The Lord’s Prayer is followed by a reflection on petitionary prayer, where the disciple asks and receives good things from God. (Note, this is different from the Gospel of Matthew which follows up with a reflection on forgiveness.)
Jesus affirms his divinity as he acknowledges his relationship to his Heavenly Father. May we draw near to the Lord today, and configure our lives to the Son of God.
Jesus reproaches the villages that rejected his message of repentance, reminding us that our response to the Lord’s invitation has crucial consequences.
Jesus concludes his teaching to the Twelve before he sends them out on their mission, reminding them to make him the priority and center of their lives.
Jesus offers a parable when asked to clarify what we must do to enter eternal life. May we actively respond with compassion and mercy to the “neighbors” in our lives!
Three Great Things 