Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Brother and Sisters in Christ,
On this Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus teaches us the value of persistence when asking him for what we need. The Gospel of Luke begins with Jesus setting the example for us as we see him praying, and the disciples ask him to teach them how to pray. In response Jesus teaches us the Lord's Prayer. Luke gives us a shorter version of the Lord’s Prayer. The version we know and pray is found in the Gospel of Matthew 6:9-13. Jesus mentions that in the same way we would approach a good friend to ask for a favor, we can also approach God asking for what we need.
Jesus said in The Gospel of Luke 11:9-10 "And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
When we need something, we will need to be diligent when we ask God for it. Not only asking him but being willing to knock on the door seeking what he truly wants for us. We may feel that a need is trivial, and we shouldn’t bother him with it, but he knows what we need better than we do and he wants us to come to him for all of our needs no matter how small we may think they are.
We won't always get the answer we want, but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can learn from and understand the answer he gives us. Jesus tells us that a loving father gives their child what they need when asked. How much more would our Heavenly Father provide us with the Holy Spirit when we ask?
May we continue to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Trusting that God will provide us with what we need.
Your brother in Christ
Deacon Manny
