CHRISTE AUDI NOS (CHRIST HEAR US)
Blessed 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Have you been expressing gratitude & thanks to God more regularly after having heard, read & reflected on last week’s readings of the healing of Naaman, the Syrian Army Commander & and the cleansing of the Samaritan leper?
This week, our theme is ‘Christ Always Interceding for Us’ & we want to keep our attention on Our Lord Jesus, “who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us” (cf Romans 8:34). Indeed, as the Letter to the Hebrews states: “Consequently he (Jesus) is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (cf Hebrews 7:25). We truly have the greatest Mediator, Intercessor and Redeemer in Jesus Chrst, Our Lord!
In our 1st reading from Exodus 17:8-13, we see Moses praying & interceding for the Israelites in their battle against the Amalekites. As Moses raised his arms & held his staff up high, helped by Aaron & Hur, the Lord granted them a great victory & Joshua cut down Amalek & his people (cf Exodus 17:13).
Moses, seen here as a type of Christ, brings about the Lord’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt & His salvation in the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, who provides them with manna as food in the desert & also intercedes for the people with his lifted hands. So, too, the Lord Jesus saves his people from sin by His death on the cross, feeds them with the Bread of Life (cf John Chapter 6), and opens His arms on the cross to pray & intercede continually for all mankind.
In our Gospel today from Luke 18:1-8, Jesus speaks about the unjust judge, who got so worn out by the continuous pleas of the widow for justice that he finally gave the widow her just rights. This is a parable about the need to persist & to pray continually. Here’s what Jesus said in an earlier Chapter (Luke 11:9-13): “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
So, we are encouraged to continue asking, seeking & knocking! The question is, how persistent have you been? Think about the times when you have prayed fervently, asking the Lord for something you really need. What happened when the answer to your prayers was delayed or if your prayer had looked like it would be unanswered? Did you still persist? Or did you just throw up your arms in despair & gave up?
Today, the Lord is encouraging you through his Apostle St Paul to ‘keep on praying’ (cf Ephesians 6:18); to ‘rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances’ (cf 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18); and to ‘not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God’ (cf Philippians 4:6).
You notice I quote quite a few verses of scripture above. Why is that so? Well, this is to reinforce what St Paul said in today’s 2nd Reading from 1 Timothy 3:14 - 4:2) to cling to the scriptures to learn the wisdom of salvation, to be guided & equipped to be holy & ready for any good works. So, my ardent wish is that you open your heart to the Words of Jesus that are Spirit & Life (cf John 6:63), & in so doing, grow in your faith & trust in Jesus, who is, even right this very moment, interceding for you before the Heavenly Father. Are you experiencing illness, disease, financial struggles, marital problems, relationship issues, pain & isolation, grief & mourning over a loved one’s death etc right now? Just ‘take it to the Lord in prayer’, as the beautiful hymn “What a Friend we Have in Jesus” so rightly declares.
Let me give you another perspective of intercession. What if someone you love, respect & care for has urgent needs & requires God’s divine intervention? What would you do? Most of us would pray to the Lord & intercede for them. In so doing, we are exercising our baptismal role of the common priesthood, in union with Jesus. We are acting like Moses in our 1st Reading to pray for their salvation, well-being & victory. And we can also share some of the encouraging bible verses above or other meaningful ones to encourage them & boost their confidence & trust in the Lord. By speaking God’s word to them in their time of need, you are exercising the prophetic role of your baptism.
Can you imagine what a powerful witness to Christ we will all be, when we turn to Jesus for our needs, encourage our family, loved ones & friend to also seek Jesus, & also intercede for others who need God’s help? What would our families, communities & parish be like? How many lives would be transformed & changed through the power of intercession & the love & care you show?
Article by Damian Boon, HFC Blog Contributor