Readings and Themes for October 24, 2010

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of October 24, 2010,
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18

The God of justice knows no favorites.

Psalm 34

"The Lord hears the cry of the poor."

Reading II 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

I have competed well, I have finished the race.

Gospel Luke 18:9-14

"O God, be merciful to me a sinner."

THEME:

God knows and sees our hearts.

Today’s scriptures invite us to come before God with all honesty, admitting our sinfulness and seeking forgiveness and reconciliation. The responsorial psalm reminds us that our God “hears the cry of the poor.” Let us be attentive to God’s sacred word and seek the peace that only God can give.

Questions of the week

Question for Children:

Jesus teaches us to be humble – but what does that mean?

How do you show you are humble?

Question for Youth:

God knows when we are doing things just for show, and when they come from the goodness of our heart.

When have you caught yourself doing something just to be more popular or liked?

How does it feel to do something that you know is good and just?

Question for Adults:

The Gospel reading suggests that we approach God and each other with humility.

What does this mean, in practical terms?

How do we “humble” ourselves? What does that mean?

Bulletin Bites
"O God, be merciful to me, a sinner."

Jesus tells of two very different men, a Pharisee and a tax collector. Both went to the temple to pray. Actually, the Pharisee went to the temple to brag: “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity…”The Pharisee is probably a good man but he thanks God that he has no need of God because he believes he is a self-made man. The tax collector does not even raise his eyes to heaven. He prays, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner”. He acknowledges his dependence on God. He stands before God with all of his flaws and faults and ask God’s forgiveness for the ways in which he has failed to be all that God created him to be. Both are stewards of all that God gave them. But it is the tax collector who understands that. It is the tax collector who asks for forgiveness. Good stewards know and admit when they have failed to be a good steward and are willing to ask their loving God to forgive them. Do we?