Last weekend’s Gospel was about the persistent widow.

Today we hear more about praying. We hear about the Pharisee and the tax collector. One who was to be praying right and one perceived to not be praying right, a sinner. Jesus holds up the tax collector/sinner as the example for us. The tax collector was the one who really prayed, asking for mercy. He faced the truth, admitted who he was. He knew he needed to change.

In our daily lives we are to make ourselves right with God. The Pharisee was all about what he’d done. The tax collector asked for mercy.

We are to remember God’s love in us. We are to strive to grow ever closer to God.

How many of you know how to pray?

How many of you pray?

How many of you pray always?

To become everything God wants us to become. This is how we pray always.

We are called to pray always and not grow weary.

275 references in scripture to pray/prayer.

We are called to persevere in our prayers.

We can pray the scriptures. We pray when we work for justice. We pray when help others.
Prayer is also a community process. We pray with family, co-workers. Coming together for Mass is an opportunity to pray together.

Pray always without losing heart.

Today we’re talking about faith.
We heard Habakkuk who was impatient. God told him to have patience.

Jesus told his disciples to have faith. He had already told them they needed to forgive people. He told them they needed to act on their faith.

In the Gospel we hear about servants. We are also called to be servants.

When my faith gets weak, I take time to think of all the things God has done for me that day.

God works through us in ways we don’t know to help others.

Let us take time to thank God for his presence in our lives.

This week’s Gospel is crystal clear.

We are to care for the poor, needy, outcast, marginalized, ostracized.
We who want to get to heaven, must help the poor.

Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus let’s us know again who we are to help and how.

Go home and calculate how much you give to the poor in a year.

Jesus tells us several times in the Gospel that we are to care for the poor.

In a sense everyone is poor…illness, sickness, fear, etc. Our own poverty should cause us to reach out to others.

St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta,
“There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread. “

Important lesson…

Jesus is the rich man. He gives us eternal life. Jesus calls us to be his servants.

People who live and work in this world sometimes work harder than you and I.
Sometimes we just want to do the minimum we have to.
How dedicated are we in following Jesus?

God has given us everything.
God asks us to give a gift that reflects our gratitude. How well do we give?

This week let’s look at how well we give.