Opening Prayer Series: 22nd Sunday of Year C

OPENING PRAYER SERIES

THE MASS: OPENING PRAYER SERIES. ICON.

The Opening Prayer of 22nd Sunday of Year C reads as follows:

Let us pray,

(that God will increase our faith

and bring to perfection the gifts He has given us)

Almighty God,

every good thing comes from You.

Fill our hearts with love for You,

Increase our faith,

and by your constant care

protect the good You have given us.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible for my life during this week, the following reflection questions emerged: 

1.            What is my understanding of faith and why do I desire God to increase it in me?  

2.            What are the gifts God has given me?

3.            How might I co-operate with God in bringing these gifts to perfection in my life this week?

4.            How would I assess my heart's capacity to love God at this present moment?

5.            What constant care has God given me in the past and recent past- compose a list that you can refer to in the difficult times of life to be assured of God's constant care.

6.            Why do we want God to protect the good He has given us?

As you reflect upon these questions you may wish to research the virtues of faith and love. My 'Virtue Series' under Faith Nurturing Category may assist you as one resource.

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Today's Gospel challenges us to consider our motives carefully and to be generous to those considered by society as less fortunate.  God who is all generous will repay our generosity in the next life. It is important to remember that we are being urged to be generous with those who cannot pay us back.  In fact, we are all in that category, because we are all poor either materially, emotionally and spiritually to a greater or lesser extent compared with someone else.

This also ties in with the concept that God does not have favourites and that we are all equal in God's sight. It seems to me that this truth can be forgotten in our homes, workplace and even, sadly in our parishes, where status and position in the world are held up as the ultimate. Jesus reminds us of the beautiful quality of humility which needs to be harnessed in our lives as Catholics. We are not to operate on the world's values, rather the values of God.

Let us ask Jesus to speak to us personally as we examine our own material, emotional and spiritual wealth and poverty during this coming week.