Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

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.

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.

Phil. 1:1-11 & Lk. 14:1-6

Eph. 6:10-20 & Lk. 13:31-35

To live the life of a Christian is to be in daily warfare with Satan. This is the message from Saint Paul in the First Reading today. And he should know! He fought many battles. So Paul advises us if you want to beat Satan wear God’s armour.

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.

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.

Rom. 11:12, 11-12, 25-29 & Lk. 14:1, 7-11

Can you imagine a time when the Jewish people will be converted to Christianity, accepting Jesus as the Messiah? It might be hard to believe but this is what Saint Paul is telling us in today's first reading.

God chose the Jews as the race from whom His Son would be born. He prepared the people for the coming of Jesus as their Saviour, and throughout Jewish history there were prophets who foretold that event. Having made such a promise, how could God fail to keep it?