Education in Faith
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C
Gospel Reflection
In this week’s gospel Luke identifies and represents widows as the lowly of society. They also are a measure of how the society was travelling. In the Old Testament, God commanded the people to care for widows, orphans and strangers. Widows, in particular, were to be cared for by the whole community. From that point on, the level of compassion within the society could be measured by the care extended to the widows.
The gospel of Luke picks up this tradition and on several occasions uses widows as the key figures in stories or parables.
In this parable, the widow is petitioning her local judge for justice, but the judge turns her away repeatedly. The widow, knowing that her cause is just, persists and finally wears down the judge.
Another feature of the gospel of Luke is that the lowly and poor – represented here by the widow – are those who recognise their own condition and call on the mercy of God to lift them up. Jesus says that God will see justice done to those who cry out for God’s help. Jesus’ final comment about finding any faith on earth is a reminder that human beings have a tendency to think they can solve all their own problems and forget that they need God’s action in their lives. The faithful in the gospel of Luke are those who know that they are in need of God’s mercy and love and call out for it.
Discussion Starters
- In today’s gospel, the widow kept pestering the judge. What did she want him to do?
- What did the judge do?
- Jesus wants us to pray to God and not give up. Who are some of the people we need to pray for?
- What are some ways that you can pray for these people this week?
- What is meant by the description of the judge as having “neither fear of God nor respect for man”?
- What finally motivates the judge to act on the widow’s case?
- In what way is the story a parable about “the need to pray continually and never lose heart”? In what aspect/s of your life do you recognise that you need God’s help?
- What regular time do/could you set aside for prayer?
SACRAMENTS 2023
To assist us with the administration and preparation of the Sacraments for 2023 we ask you to please accept/decline on Operoo, to indicate the Sacrament your child will be celebrating in 2023.
Dates for Sacraments, Parent and Child Workshops will be published in our school app, calendar and newsletter closer to the date of the Sacrament.
Reconciliation : Baptised Catholics in Year 3 or above.
Sacrament of First Eucharist : Baptised Catholics in or above who have received their Reconciliation.
Sacrament of Confirmation Year 6 ONLY : Catholics, who have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and First Eucharist.
God Bless
Rozeta Ambrose