SMALL GROUP MEDITATION

October 16, 2016 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Exodus 17:8-13; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2; Luke 18:1-8

Parents going out for an evening often run down the list of rules one more time for their children. Elderly parents share the most important lessons they’ve learned in life with their families. As we near the end of the liturgical year, we can almost sense the urgency of Jesus’ teachings in our Gospel readings each week. Historically, this part of Luke’s gospel describes Jesus’ words to his followers as he journeyed toward Jerusalem and his Passion and death. In these last gospel readings, Jesus reminds us of the most important lessons: look out for each other and not just for ourselves, be humble, be thankful, and this week, be patient in prayer and remember to whom you pray.

These readings hold up challenging examples of humble trust and patient prayer. Moses, Aaron and Hurpetition God to help the Israelites in the battle against their enemies, to the point of exhaustion for Moses, who needed Aaron and Hur to physically hold him up to continue praying. Paul charges Timothy to “be persistent, whether it is convenient or inconvenient.” The widow in Jesus’ parable returns again and again to petition the judge for a just decision, even though he remained unwilling for a long time. Our attitude in prayer to God speaks volumes about how much we trust in God and not in ourselves. If we become impatient with God, putting conditions on his response to our prayers, then we do not trust him as an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good God who desires only what is best for us. We seem to pray as if we know more than God does the path that will get us to heaven. We seem to pray as if he is not God at all! Praying humbly, with patience and trust in the true God, puts us in right relationship with him. Only humility can open our hearts to his all-perfect response to our prayerful petitions.

For more information or to sign up for a small group contact Karen Fish at (952) 239-1949.

Reflection Questions:

  • What is your most common prayer to God? How has God answered or not answered that prayer?
  • What do you do when it seems God does not answer your prayer? What could you do differently to grow in trust of him and his plan for your life?
  • Why do you think it is so difficult for us to surrender to God’s timing and plans?