30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Prayer
Lord of the Harvest,
Send more men and women into the field to proclaim the Gospel of Salvation and attend to the spiritual and physical needs of the poor, and to foster a love for you; especially through the sacramental life of Your Church. Amen
Commentary
1st Reading: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18
As we begin this three-week reflection on salvation, we are confronted with a reality that there is a great poverty in our world. The reality is that most of us on this planet do not know the gift of our Savior. During these three weeks, we pray for our priests, sisters, and lay faithful who are addressing the physical and spiritual needs of our world. In addition, we are called to be self-reflective as we consider our calling to be missionaries of salvation in the world.
Our First Reading reminds us that our God hears the cry of the poor. God hears their cry through Christ and His Church. As Church, we respond to the cry of the poor by extending His loving heart to our neighbors across the globe through our prayers and sacrifices.
Sirach says that the “Lord will not delay” in his response to the cry of the oppressed. For this reason, our Catholic Church supports 1,111 mission dioceses — mostly in Africa and Asia — where the poorest of the poor receive an education and health care while experiencing the loving heart of our Lord through missionaries.
Question:
In what way are you responding to the cry of the poor?
2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
St. Paul was a zealous missionary. Toward the end of his missionary journey on earth, he saw how he competed well, finished the race, and kept the faith. As the Lord would not delay in responding to the cry of the poor (1st Reading), Paul would not delay in his desire to spread the Gospel.
Missionary sisters, priests, and lay faithful continue to fight the good fight. They face many hardships in war-torn areas and highly impoverished lands on our globe. Thankfully, they have our prayers and financial support. In our local parishes, we take up a collection on World Mission Sunday to give aid to our missionaries on the front line.
The missionary effort of the Church belongs to all of God’s people. St. Therese of Lisieux, co-patron for missionaries, said, “Some give by going to the missions, others go by giving. Without both, there are no missions.”
The Good News proclaimed by St. Paul throughout his life must be shared today and without delay. Responding to our common call to be missionaries, we must “compete well” and “fight the good fight.”
Question:
How are you prepared to be a missionary here at home?
Gospel: Luke 18:9-14
“The Lord hears the cry of the Poor,” says the Psalmist. Our Gospel recognizes both a spiritual poverty and a physical poverty. In Jesus’ parable, the cry of the sinful tax collector catches the ear of the Lord, while the self-righteous words of the Pharisee are dismissed.
This three-part series reminds us that we must be missionaries for the salvation of souls. In this age of “the New Evangelization,” we not only preach to the four corners of the Earth. We extend the Good News to those living right next to us.
The missionary efforts of our Church must tap the hearts of the sinners among us; especially the sinners who cannot recognize their own sinfulness. Some of the poorest on our planet are living in 1st world countries. Preoccupied with senseless endeavors, many souls are wasting their lives away. They are not fixing their minds on what could be a beautiful relationship with God.
Poverty is all around us and the Lord is asking all of us to step up our efforts to spread his Gospel and without delay.
Question:
Where are the poor in your life?
This Week’s Task
Many have the sense that all are saved. However, Salvation comes through Jesus Christ – the One Savior of the World. Jesus is God and, through Him, we are saved.
Is this something that you are called to share? Take time and ask yourself:
When was the last time I had asked a person if they wanted to know more about Jesus? Ask the Lord to give you the courage to invite others to know Jesus, the Savior of the world.
Group Prayer
The group offers the following through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier, Patron of the Missions:
Lord God, by the preaching of St. Francis Xavier you brought many nations to yourself. Give his zeal for the faith to all who believe in you, that your Church may rejoice in continued growth throughout the world. May this prayer fill us with the same love that inspired Francis Xavier to work for the salvation of all. Help us to live our Christian calling and to inherit the promise of eternal life. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
The prayer continues with Psalm 34.
Psalm
Response: The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.
R. The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Conclude with an Our Father