30th Sunday in Ordinary Time--Liturgical Cycle C

Lectionary Readings
Reading I: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 7,17-19, 23
Reading II: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Homily
For all four October Sundays our bible readings at Mass Liturgy present a meditation on the nature of faith. One might say it is an “Octoberfest of Faith.” Our first season of Renew 2000 calls us to deepen this faith, this relationship with our God in Christ.

On the First Sunday, we saw in the prayer of the disciples, “Lord, increase our faith,” that this virtue is a living part of us. Faith is not some static quality or thing, like carrying around a purse or a billfold. Faith is a living relationship with God. It is more like the muscles in our arms and legs. It can lay unused and become weak or it can grow and develop. Like any relationship, our relationship with our God can be deepened, increased, renewed.

The next October Sunday, in the story of the leper who returned to offer thanks and praise, we are told by Jesus that thanking and praising was itself an “act of faith.” “Go,” Jesus said, “your FAITH has saved you.” We come to understand that” acts of Faith” (prayers and praise, communion and conversation) deepen our relationship with God so that we may be numbered among those who are saved, invited to dine in the feast of the Kingdom.

This past Sunday, Jesus tells the story of the corrupt judge who gave in to the woman who kept pestering him to do her justice. Jesus tells us that God will pay attention to one who beseeches him day and night. To be a faith filled person is to be persistent in our relationship with God. One doesn’t go off to get a divorce at the slightest inconvenience or disappointment. Faith is a relationship which persists in the dark night as well as in the light of day.

Today, on this fourth Sunday of our “Octoberfest,” our faith relationship is seen as very close and intimate. God in Christ is ever present to us and we to him.

The Prayer of the Pharisee talks to God about things. It is obviously not a conversation between lovers. The Pharisee gives a grocery list of his accomplishments. Faith prayer, however, is about God and our response to him, about his presence to us in the core of our being. Like a mantra we whisper over and over, “Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.”

The faith of the publican is that simple prayer whereby we come into contact with our deepest selves in Christ—God in the core of our being. The real faith prayer, we are told by contemplatives, is the prayer of Christ in our innermost selves. In this intimacy, words are hardly spoken. In Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, we are in the presence of the Divine Being.

“Poured out like a libation,” we call God “Abba, Father!"

Your will be done.
Your Kingdom come.
Give us today our Bread for life.
Forgive us as we forgive those who do us wrong.
Deliver us from the trial."

During this “Octoberfest of Faith” we are called to see that Faith is our conversation with our God from the heart –in the core of our being. THAT is the virtue of faith! We become more and more conscious of the divine presence. The Christ of God, our Savior and Redeemer, speaks to us and we hear his voice; in faith, in this intimate relationship, we whisper to him and he hears our heart.
--Fr. Pat

Excerpt from "A Catholic's Companion: Liturgical Cycle C" (c)2000 C. Patrick Creed
Published by Watchmaker Press. Maggie Hettinger, editor