July 27, 2025・17th Sunday in Ordinary Time ( C )

Genesis 18.20-32・Psalm 138.1+2ab,4+5;7d・Colossians 2.12-14・Luke 11.1-13

We have been reflecting about living-out our Christian faith through putting into practice the precepts of God. We have been told that life in God, and love of God, is always attributed and is identified with love of neighbor. The Word of God that touches the core of our hearts leads us to be more generous and compassionate. There is a specific grace that comes from attentively listening to Jesus` teachings. We are being molded to naturally and immediately respond to people`s needs. A particular lesson we have learnt is about being flexible in our daily errands we ourselves most often created for our own individual and personal ends. The call to flexibility (to be flexible) for others is indeed a call to authentic Christianity (Christian faith). We commit the sin of omission (sin of neglect) each time we intentionally disregard our neighbors who need immediate attention and help from us. We rather choose to just go on our self-serving route and schedules.

God has been forgiving us with the many sins of omission we commit. In spite our repeated neglect to live-out what we profess in words, we continue to live in God`s grace.

Our readings today talk about forgiveness of sins and a call to persistent prayer.  The teaching about forgiveness of sins is another gift from God that is rooted from His love and compassion. You and I commit sin every couple of seconds each day. BUT the love and compassion of God that is more important than the sin we often commit spare us from the idea that we are helpless and is for hell because of our sins. There is always a continuing forgiveness, cancellation of debts, and life-giving grace.

With the teachings about forgiveness of sins, there is at the same time a call to persistence in prayer. There is a remarkable part of prayer we hear from the priest reciting during mass before we exchange the “Sign of Peace”:

"Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles, ‘Peace I leave you,

my peace I give you;’ look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church,

and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.”

In the 18^th chapter of the book of Genesis, we can learn how Abraham persistently pleaded to spare Sodom from distraction. Abraham was deeply concerned about few innocent people living in the same place. God has felt Abraham`s persistence. Even with just few people innocent living in the place, the whole place was saved from distraction.

In our gospel reading today, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. We have today a shorter version from the Gospel according to Luke of “the Lord`s Prayer” we have been reciting for centuries. We are persistent in prayer that God will forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. It is indeed a beautiful part of the Lord`s prayer that keeps on reminding us to refrain from incubating unforgiving hearts.

Jesus emphasizes persistence in prayer and assures that God will answer. Jesus made it clear that the Father in Heaven surely gives the Holy Spirit who asks for it. We have the last verse in our gospel reading that demands us a common sense stating that “if you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”