Reflection for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Exodus 17:8-13; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2 St. Luke 18:1-8

Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed,

because you know from whom you learned it….

“God is good—all the time.” “All the time—God is good.”  You may have heard this popular call-and-response prayer that young people love to repeat.  The enthusiasm of this prayer is contagious, and it could be a cheer for all the readings of our Mass today. There is encouragement in all of them.  I hope you sense it as you read and reflect.

At the end of Saint Paul’s second letter to Saint Timothy, he energizes one of our most important Christian tasks–to spread the good news of God, to evangelize!   We are all called to participate in this essential mission of the Church.  It is an apostolic duty to share our faith, stemming all the way back to Our Lord’s command at the end of Saint Matthew’s Gospel  (MT 28:20):

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them

in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

If this “Great Commission” from Jesus makes us a bit nervous, we might need to get some practice!   Thankfully we already have the power to share God’s truths, originating in our own Baptism and our reception of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Saint Paul’s letter gives three great directives for doing what Jesus asked.  This section opens with the saint’s words – “I charge you.”  Saint Paul could hardly be more direct!

The first direction here is  “Proclaim the word.”  Yes, we have to read and ponder the Scriptures, steep ourselves in them.  In our familiarity with God’s Word, we will be like a soaked sponge; His wisdom and love will flow out to the people we contact. The Word of God has the power to transform hearts and minds. We would do well to memorize some favorite Scripture passages and have them ready to share.

The second instruction tells us to go beyond our comfort zone as the Apostles did to tell the truth about God:  “Be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient.”  Traveling the hot roads of Galilee was likely on many days “inconvenient” for them, but they persevered, and the Church spread far and wide.

The manner of sharing the Good News is the third instruction:  “convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.”  You may use words or the example of your own life.  Others seeing you read the Bible or pray the scriptural meditations of the Rosary is a wordless witness.  Perhaps you already do this.

A huge help is that, as you are sharing, the truth will resonate inside each person to whom you offer it. This is because it is God’s message, not yours or mine.

As you reflect upon today’s readings, choose one or more of St. Paul’s ideas to put into practice this week. Know that you can depend on the Holy Spirit to help you!

Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm  121)