
We hear the teaching of Jesus’ Parable of the Persistent Neighbor at the end of today’s Gospel from Luke. Modern people might look at that story in amazement. That man sure had a lot of nerve to be knocking on his neighbor’s door in the middle of the night to ask for some bread. Was he overstepping the boundaries of friendship?
It helps our understanding if we know that in the biblical world, hospitality was of utmost importance. An unexpected guest visited the man after midnight and he had no food to share, so he confidently went to his neighbor for bread. We might sympathize with the friend who was rudely awakened but, in the culture of the time, he is the one who was behaving badly by telling his neighbor to go away. The ability of his friend to provide hospitality was at stake. The sleepy-eyed neighbor would incur dishonor if he failed to assist his persistent friend in his time of need.
This parable is part of Jesus’ teaching on prayer. The disciples often saw Jesus in prayer, and they had no doubt that he was in deep communion with his Father. No wonder they asked him to teach them how to pray. They must have been surprised that he used such simple language.
The simplicity of the Lord’s Prayer stems from the trust and intimacy that Jesus shared with his Father. We get another glimpse of that kind of intimacy in the First Reading’s amusing story of Abraham’s persistent request to God to spare the people of Sodom and Gomorrah from divine retribution. Only someone who was a close intimate friend would dare to speak to God with such familiarity.
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, he used the intimate word “abba” as a form of address to God. This was a radical idea at the time of Jesus for “abba” is the familiar address of a child to his or her dad. Devout Jews at the time would shrink from addressing God in such an intimate and informal way, but that was Jesus’ point. He IS intimate with his Father and confident in that relationship. So must we be when we turn to God in prayer. The Our Father is Jesus’ gift to us, a way for us to enter more deeply into our relationship with God.
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Entrance Antiphon God Is in His Holy Place (Steve Angrisano, Sarah Hart and Curtis Stephan)
Let Us All Rejoice #148
This antiphon text from Psalm 68 supports well the Gospel’s lesson on hospitality and intimacy with God.
Entrance Chant Our God Is Good (Josh Blakesley and Cooper Ray)
Spirit & Song #227; Never Too Young #103
For those communities who choose to do a song at the Entrance Chant, it’s summertime and the singing is easy. So let’s do the very familiar “Our God Is Good”
Responsorial Psalm Lord, On the Day I Called for Help (Steve Angrisano)
Spirit & Psalm 2025: p. 276
Steve’s verbatim setting of Psalm 138 responds to the First Reading’s story of Abraham’s confidence in God.
Gospel Acclamation Alleluia: Mass of Renewal (Curtis Stephan)
Spirit & Psalm 2025: p. 280
The acclamation verse from Romans is Saint Paul’s reference to Jesus’ intimate prayer with his Father.
Preparation of the Gifts God, My Father (Jackie Francois)
Spirit & Song #301
Jackie Francois’ song is a reflection on childlike trust in God.
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Communion Antiphon Bless the Lord, O My Soul, and Never Forget [Option 1] (Steve Angrisano, Sarah Hart and Curtis Stephan)
Let Us All Rejoice #149
Antiphon Option 1 is a prayer of thanksgiving for the generous blessings of God.
Communion Chant 10,000 Reasons [Bless the Lord] (Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman)
Spirit & Song #270; Breaking Bread #544
Inspired by the opening phrase of Psalm 103, “10,000 Reasons” complements today’s Communion Antiphon.
Sending Forth A Rightful Place (Steve Angrisano)
Spirit & Song #202; Breaking Bread #728
Based on text by Saint Augustine, “A Rightful Place” joyfully sends us forth from this liturgy with confidence as we build up the Kingdom of God.
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