Reflection for Sunday's Readings:

October 21, 2007
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time


READING 1: Exodus 17:8-13

Reading 1 Reflection:

The author of Exodus narrates a strange and surprising war story. After Moses leads them out of Egypt, the Israelites are on their way to Canaan, the Promised Land. But they are attacked by desert tribes called Amalekites. Little do these tribes know that the Israelites have a "secret weapon." As long as Moses' hands remain raised in prayer, the Amalekites keep losing. And when Moses can no longer keep his arms in the air, his two companions hold them up for him. So the desert tribes do not stand a chance against Joshua's forces. The Israelites are assured once again that God is guiding and protecting them.

Discussion Questions for Reading 1:

Have you or your family ever gone through difficult times and yet persisted in prayer? Tell about it. Moses did not pray alone. He had help. What do you think this says about prayer with others?

Do you remember learning about "the communion of saints?" In heaven and on earth, we are united as members of the body of Christ. In this way we pray for and support one another. Who supports you in prayer, in heaven and on earth? Whom do you support in prayer?


READING 2: 2 Timothy 3:14?4:2

Reading 2 Reflection:

In this reading Timothy is instructed to be faithful to his ministry as a preacher of God's Word. Timothy is to preach what he learned from his holy teachers and from the Scriptures. He must preach even the truths that people to do not want to hear. And he must continue to communicate God's word, whether people accept it or not.

Discussion Questions for Reading 2:

A coach stood before his team. "At every practice session, I am going to correct you. You may not like to hear the things you are doing wrong, but it is my job to point them out. Why? To help you become a better player. If I correct you, it's only because I see that you have the potential to be better. It's when I don't correct you that you should worry, because that might mean I just don't care!"

How was this coach trying to help his players? Why is he a good coach?

A parent or a teacher is like a coach--only a parent or teacher has a much bigger job. A parent, teacher, grandparent, or other relative has the job of coaching you into becoming a good, loving person: a true child of God. You may not like to hear all that your "Head Coach" (Mom, Dad, Gran, or teacher) has to say. Can you give some examples of things that are hard to hear? How do you respond to these corrections?

You might try this response: "Thanks for caring, Coach!" You might like to write a "Thanks for Caring" note to your parents or teacher right now!

Friends also have a "coaching job" to do for each other. This is part of what friendship is all about. When has a friend coached you into doing the best you could, or doing the right thing when you were tempted not to? Write a "Thanks for Caring" note to that friend.

Then thank God for all the coaches in your life!


Gospel Luke 18:1-8

Gospel Reflection:

Just as our first reading was a victory story, so is the parable Jesus tells about the widow and the judge. A lowly widow comes before a judge, seeking her rights. The immoral judge ignores her, but the widow goes on pleading and nagging until he finally decides the case in her favor. He helps the widow not because he is good but because she is persistent. Jesus concludes that if a corrupt judge can do justice to someone who keeps on asking, God, the most just judge of all, will certainly listen to those who persist in prayer.

Discussion Questions for Gospel:

Jesus himself provides a discussion question for this gospel: "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" What do you think? How will you try to be one of these faithful ones?

The widow's first and last request was not for privilege but for justice. In his encyclical, "On the Development of Peoples," Pope Paul VI (who was the pope immediately before Pope John Paul II) urged all Catholics and all people of the world to work for both justice and peace. How can you work and pray for justice and peace in our time?