Faith Daily | 30 September 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p583

O God,

you declare your almighty power

chiefly in showing mercy and pity:

mercifully grant us such a measure of your grace

that, running in the way of your commandments,

we may obtain your gracious promises,

and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 10: 13-16

13 ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14But at the judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades.

16 ‘Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.’

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Kathy Allen

When something goes wrong or when people do something that confounds us, we often say, “Maybe they didn’t know any better.” Well. Maybe they didn’t- but as people of faith, we do, or at least we are supposed to, and that it what makes these short verses so confronting and challenging. Here again we see the very human face of Jesus. He sounds discouraged, frustrated and angry. What more can He do beyond what He has already done to show the way to life everlasting and yet people either do not listen or choose to ignore. Jesus makes clear that there are eternal consequences for the rejection of His word.

It is suggested that Jesus cannot save us if we refuse to live our lives according to His teachings of faith, hope and love. The challenge is that we must make this choice every day and live the three basic principles every day and in all situations. Yet people can be so utterly difficult and outrageous in their comments and behaviour that sometimes ….. . And there we have it. Sometimes I lose my temper; sometimes I refuse to cooperate; sometimes I say nothing when I should say something and vice versa. Life can become as difficult as I allow it to become and that’s on a good day.

I am neither a saint nor a martyr. How can I reset and be free of all this negativity? The constancy of Jesus can be my example such that I must constantly and intentionally work towards a change of heart and mind – an accepting heart and an open mind.

FINAL PRAYER APBA p587

O God,

from whom light rises in darkness for those who seek you:

grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties,

the grace to ask what you would have us do,

that in your light we may see light,

and in your narrow path may not stumble;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.