Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Sunday, July 24, 2022
Gospel Reading
Luke 11:1-13
Jesus teaches the disciples about prayer.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Luke gives more attention to Jesus' teachings on prayer than any other Gospel writer. He also mentions Jesus at prayer more than the others. In today's reading, from the beginning of Chapter 11 of his Gospel, Luke presents the core of Jesus' teaching on prayer. It consists of Jesus teaching a prayer to his disciples, a parable on the persistent neighbour, and assurances that God hears our prayers.
The disciples notice Jesus praying “in a certain place.” They ask him to teach them to pray just as John the Baptist had taught his disciples. Jesus teaches them a simple version of the most famous Christian prayer, the Our Father, or the Lord's Prayer. Matthew's version shows signs of being shaped by public prayer. Luke's version is probably closer to the original form that Jesus taught. Stripped of much of the language we are used to, Luke's version seems simple and direct. We pray that God's name will be recognized as holy and that his rule over all will be established. This is followed by petitions for our needs for bread, for forgiveness, and for deliverance. Luke uses the more theological language of “sins” rather than “debts,” which is used in Matthew's version.
Having taught his disciples a simple, daily prayer, Jesus goes on to reassure them that God answers prayers. First he tells a parable about a persistent neighbour who asks a friend for bread at midnight. The friend is already in bed and has no desire to disturb his family by opening the door. But because the neighbour is persistent, the sleeping man gets up and gives him all that he needs. If a neighbour is willing to help us if we are persistent enough, how could God not respond to our requests?
This teaching concludes with the reminder that if we seek, we will get a response. If a human father, with all his faults, knows how to give good gifts to his children, how much more will our heavenly Father give us? Instead of good gifts, however, Luke substitutes the word Holy Spirit. This foreshadows the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is central to Luke's theology and who will play an important role in the growth of the early Church after Pentecost.
The parable and the concluding teaching in this section should not lead us to think of prayer as a series of requests presented to God. Rather, as Jesus teaches in his model prayer, prayer consists in recognizing God's holiness and his rule over all things.
Whole School Mass
We will be having a whole school Mass on Thursday August 18th to celebrate the beautiful feast of the Assumption.(August 15th)
It would be wonderful if as many parents,grandparents and friends could join us for this, so please note this in your diaries.
In conjunction with preparing for this Mass, and following on from the visit earlier in the year of the icon Ko Hata Maria, te Matua Wahine o te Atua which was commissioned by the Bishops of New Zealand to celebrate the rededication of Aotearoa New Zealand to Mary, Mother of God, Assumed into Heaven, your child /children will be creating and making their own icon . We look forward to being able to share the process and finished creation with you.
Grandparents Day Tuesday 26th July
Pope Francis has declared July 26th (Feast Day of St Joachim and Anne, grandparents of Jesus) World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly.
We are celebrating Grandparents Day next Monday at our Liturgy. This Liturgy is going to be recorded so we can share it with you and hopefully you will be able to share it with your child/children’s very precious grandparents and grandfriends.
Pope Francis has written a beautiful and quite personal letter for the World Day which is well worth reading. As Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life has observed:” The Pope’s message for the upcoming World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly is the alternative to the culture of rejection: it helps all of us and the elderly themselves, to understand that far from being material to be thrown away - they have a precious vocation within our communities. In this time that yearns for peace, the Church has a great need for elders, who have the “gift” of tenderness, who are able to protect and intercede.”
Click here for the full message from Pope Francis or see the message below.
And so we pray,
Lord God, bless our grandparents with long life, happiness and health. May they remain constant in your love and be living signs of your presence to their children and grandchildren. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
With kind regards and God bless
Sally Washer
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** Colour Run Postponement **
Unfortunately we've had to make a call and postpone the Colour Run again. The atrocious weather of late means that even if it clears by Friday, the field will be too soggy and plus there are a lot of children off this week due to illness. We’re working with school to determine a new date and we will communicate this with you as soon as possible.
Thank you to all those who offered to help on the day; without you these events simply can’t happen so we truly appreciate your participation. We hope you’ll be able to help on the new date too.
We know the children will be disappointed as well but it will happen one day!
Thank you for your understanding.
Your PTA Committee
Katie, Lisa and Sarah
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Year 6 Elliot Olsen | Year 5 Becky Ryder | Year 4 Lily Dowling |
Year 6
Year 5
Year 4
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Year 3 Aiyna Rojins | Year 2 Josh Baldwin | Year 0/1 Joe Tarpey |
Year 3
Year 2
Year 0/1
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