​​​​​Holy Infant Catholic Church

Father Michaels Weekly Thoughts 

WEEKLY THOUGHTS 17th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME JULY 27th, 2025

Dear friends, Peace be with you all and welcome to the celebration of the 17th Sunday in Ordinary time and the last Sunday in the month of July.  Let us be thankful to God for his blessings showered upon us as we accept the invitation of Jesus to live by the Spirit. In the Gospel Reading of last Sunday, Jesus exonerated Mary’s choice of staying at the feet of Jesus as a more perfect way to live by the Spirit.

In the first Reading, Genesis 18:20-32 Abraham pleads with God to save the innocent people of Sodoma and Gomorrah. In the second Reading; Colossians 2: 12-14 Paul reminds us about the spiritual transformation of our Baptism. “In Baptism we were buried with Christ and also rose with him.”

In the Gospel; Luke 11: 1-13 the disciples of Jesus after seeing him at prayer requested Jesus to teach them how to pray. Jesus taught them the Our Father in a summary form emphasizing the essential elements of forgiveness of our sins and sins of others who do us wrong. Here, Jesus demands a clear and clean internal disposition of the heart – that must be free of hypocrisy. Indeed, forgiveness from the heart is at the center of Jesus’ teachings on holiness.

Forgiveness helps one to heal from the hurt of the offender and opens to God’s forgiving love. There is no need for the disciple of Jesus to hold on grudge and revenge. This is a call to live by the life of the Spirit, a life that frees us from resentment and anger. May Jesus give me the spirit to forgive all who hurt me ranging from family members, parishioners, co-workers and even leaders.

Finally, Jesus teaches us about the spirit of prayer. Jesus had a time and place of prayer. We are told how Jesus spent nights in isolated places in prayer.

Some spiritual writers define prayer as life and fuel for our spiritual life. Prayer is very central in the lives of all Saints.

Prayers must be persistent to bear fruits. Jesus demands it from his disciples “to pray always without ceasing”.

In prayer, we can get to know the wisdom of God. Families and individuals must pray to find inspiration. Abraham got to know the wisdom of God in his prayer questing mercy for the innocent.

Let us appreciate the power of prayer in our life as disciples and pilgrims of hope.

Have a wonderful week and God bless.