Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Rom. 8:31-39 & Lk. 13:31-35

Scripture scholars maintain that the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans was his masterpiece, capturing much of his theology in the most refined manner. In today’s reading Paul concludes that we who live in the Spirit cannot fail because we have so much going for us. "Nothing therefore can come between us and the love of Christ."

Rom. 8:26-30 & Lk. 13:22-30

If ever we do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit is there to help us. Whenever we have difficulty in praying it would be good to recall the words of Saint Paul from today's first reading and commit them to memory.

Rom. 8:18-25 & Lk. 13:18-21

If we were to give medals to biblical personalities, Saint Paul would win the one for the most energetic! He never seemed to tire in his zeal for preaching, travelling, writing, in his care of the Churches and even suffering for Jesus. Paul is an inspiration for everyone in how to follow Christ. What was his secret?

Rom. 8:12-17 & Lk. 13:10-17

Life lived according to the spirit, or the flesh, is what Saint Paul talks about in today’s first reading. A life lived according to the spirit means a life lived under the influence of the Spirit. Then we truly become the children of God and are able to call God our Father, Abba, and become heirs to His kingdom.

Luke 18: 9-14

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in today's Gospel was addressed to those people who were self-confidently sure, considered themselves superior and despised others. It had a powerful emotional impact.

His purpose was not to offend the Pharisees but He wanted them to change their proud ways and to take an honest look at themselves. You can be sure they were offended for no-one, then or now, likes being told they are in the wrong.

Phil. 1:18-26 & Lk. 14:1, 7-11

“Life to me, of course, is Christ.” Saint Paul could have made these words the motto of his life. Ever since Christ blinded him and he fell from his horse on the road to Damascus, he lived and breathed Christ. He longed to leave this world and be with Christ. But he knew Christ still had work for him.

Eph. 6:1-9 & Lk. 13:22-30

“Children, be obedient to your parents in the Lord.” This is the command from Saint Paul in the First Reading today. I can only speak from experience but God gave me parents I loved and it was a delight, usually, to do what they asked of me - I knew that they loved me and I always wanted to please them.

Eph. 5:21-33 & Lk. 13:18-21

Eph. 8:32-5:8 & Lk. 13:10-17

The missionary churches that Saint Paul established and supported consisted of converts from paganism. He wanted them to make a real impact on their environment with lives that showed a real difference from the surrounding culture. So Paul encouraged them to live upright and blameless moral lives.

Rom. 8:18-25 & Lk. 13:18-21

If we were to give medals to biblical personalities, Saint Paul would win the one for the most energetic! He never seemed to tire in his zeal for preaching, travelling, writing, in his care of the Churches and even suffering for Jesus. Paul is an inspiration for everyone in how to follow Christ. What was his secret?