The Gospel today begins immediately with an urgent request from the apostles to Jesus: Increase our faith! (Luke 17:5) It is their response to Jesus’ teaching on forgiveness, which is not included in today’s passage: that we are to rebuke our neighbour if they sin against us and forgive our neighbour as many times as they sincerely ask our forgiveness - literally “seven” times, which in the Jewish terms of the day meant without limit.
Pluscarden Benedictines No. 199 - Autumn 2022
Homily for Sunday 29C, 16 October 2022: Exodus 17:8-13; Luke 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray constantly and never lose heart. Today’s Gospel offers us a strong lesson about prayer, especially the prayer of petition for what we want, or need. Don’t be discouraged! Don’t lose faith! Don’t give up! The Lord wants to be asked; he hears; he responds; he is generous in giving.
A Nigerian Nun at Pluscarden
Homily for the 8 o’clock Mass, Sunday 26C, 25 September 2022, Luke 16:19-31
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is proper to St. Luke. Like other parables proper to this Gospel - for example the Prodigal Son, or the Good Samaritan, or the Pharisee and the Publican - this one very much fits with Luke’s typical emphases. St. Luke, more than any other evangelist, wants to show how Jesus made himself one with the poor: from the poverty of the stable in Bethlehem, to the poverty of the Cross.