COLLECT SERIES
The Mass: Collect series icon
COLLECT
The Collect for the Twenty Second Sunday of Year C reads as
follows:
God of
might, giver of every good gift,
Put
into our hearts the love of Your name,
So
that, by deepening our sense of reverence,
And,
by Your watchful care,
keep
safe what You have nurtured
Through
our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who
lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One
God for ever and ever.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Converting this prayer into
spirituality in action, the following reflection questions emerged:
1.What are the good gifts God has
given me this past week?
2.What are the good gifts I hope to
receive this coming week?
3. How can I love God’s name this
coming week?
4. How have I not honoured God’s name
in the past e.g. Allowing people to use God’s name in conversation which does
not honour Him or do I use His name in conversation myself?
5.What does reverence mean to me and
how I deepen my sense of reverence?
6. How has God nurtured me and how
can I bring that sense of nurture to others?
GOSPEL REFLECTION
Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7–14
"For everyone who exalts himself
will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted."
Reflection
In today’s Gospel, Jesus attends a meal at the house of a leading
Pharisee and notices how the guests choose the places of honour. He responds
with two teachings — one about humility and one about generosity.
1. Humility Before God and Others
Jesus invites us to resist the temptation to seek recognition and
status. In a world that often rewards self-promotion and influence, He calls us
to a different way of living — a way where greatness is measured not by where
we sit at the table, but by how we serve others.
True humility does not mean putting ourselves down; rather, it means seeing
ourselves truthfully — as loved children of God — and allowing God to place us
where we belong.
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who
humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11)
Humility opens the door for God’s grace to work in us. When we stop
striving to make ourselves important, we become free to love without fear and
serve without seeking reward.
2. Generosity Without Expectation
Jesus also challenges us to widen our
circle of care. He encourages us to invite those who cannot repay us — the
poor, the lonely, the forgotten. This teaching mirrors the very heart of God,
who gives abundantly without expecting anything in return.
In doing so, Jesus invites us to
reflect God’s generosity in our relationships. Our reward is not found in
earthly recognition but in the joy of sharing God’s love, and ultimately, in
the eternal banquet of heaven.
Practical Takeaways for the Week
- Examine
your heart: Are there moments when you seek recognition or control? Offer
them to God in prayer.
- Practice
hidden acts of kindness: Do something good for someone who cannot repay
you.
- Choose
humility: When tempted to compete for attention or status, ask Jesus for
the grace to be content where you are.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Teach me to walk humbly with You and to serve others with a generous heart.
Free me from seeking recognition,
And help me to love as You love —
quietly, deeply, and without expecting anything in return.
Amen.
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