Sunday reflections

Jesus often spoke in parables, and he knew how to tell a story, but parables were often stories that upended people’s expectations. The wealthy often seem blessed in this life, so we might expect they will be blessed in the next life. This is not the message of this parable.

On December 5, 2018, at the memorial service for US President George H W Bush, long time friend and former Republican Senator for Wyoming, Alan Simpson, remarked: “Those who travel the high road of humility in Washington DC are not bothered by heavy traffic!”

This week’s feast is an ancient one, known as The Triumph (or The Exaltation) of the Cross. Legend has it that on this date, September 14 in 330, St Helena, a Christian, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, discovered “the true cross” on which Jesus had died in Jerusalem.

The good news revealed by Jesus includes many demanding and sometimes scandalous teachings. As the writer of today’s first reading discerns, we probably would not have come to the same conclusions as God if we were in charge. When it comes to living how God wants us to, “who could have learnt it, had you not granted Wisdom, and sent your holy spirit from above?”

On December 5, 2018, at the memorial service for US President George H W Bush, long time friend and former Republican Senator for Wyoming, Alan Simpson, remarked: “Those who travel the high road of humility in Washington DC are not bothered by heavy traffic!”

This has been a momentous year for the Christian, and particularly the Catholic community, with the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV. From the start Pope Leo has stressed that his role as successor of Saint Peter is not to lord it over the Church or the world, but to be at everyone’s service.

Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ, what do we expect Jesus to bring into our lives? While we may list many things, we surely hope that our Saviour will bring peace and blessings to every one of us as His disciples and to the world.

This week we hear Jesus offer a stinging warning. Be vigilant! Live your life like servants awaiting the return of their master! But do not be afraid, he says, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom.

This week’s readings explore the theme of our enduring inheritance in God. The first reading reminds us that, of earthly treasures: “All is vanity”. The psalm counsels us to realise “the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart” and encourages us to keep our gaze fixed on God for “in every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.” The second reading urges us to seek the things that are above, where Christ is, and that “the life you have is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

There are two versions of the Lord’s Prayer in the gospels. The shorter version is Luke 11:1-4, and the longer version is Matthew 6:9-11. The two versions are addressed to different ethnic groups. Luke is writing for Gentile Christians who had not learned to pray like their Jewish counterparts whom Matthew addresses in his Gospel.