17th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Fr. Joseph Corpora, C.S.C.

Fr. Joseph reflects on the intimacy between God and Abraham, which allowed Abraham to bargain with God. Their dialogue in the first reading is endearing, tender, and hopeful. Only someone in a deeply trusting relationship could be as bold as Abraham is. Don't we all desire that intimacy and trust with God? Abraham's relationship with God is born from a lifetime of prayer. The relationship between God and every human being is available to everyone, and God wants this relationship more than we do. God does everything possible to make it happen; all we have to do is accept the invitation. For the most part, our relationships with others are not formed over social media; they are formed by human contact. Sadly, we have replaced much human contact with virtual relationships. Time with each other makes us human --- God is relational, and so are we. We are saved not by technology but by our relationships with each other. This week, try to spend more time with God and with each other than with your phone. -- "Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.' He said to them, 'When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.' "And he said to them, 'Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, "Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him," and he says in reply from within, "Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything." I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. "'And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?'" Luke 11:1-13 -- The Congregation of Holy Cross is a community of Catholic, apostolic priests and brothers called by Jesus Christ and founded by Blessed Basil Moreau, who patterned the religious community after the Holy Family. The brothers and priests of Holy Cross pray and live united in a common religious life, sharing the same history, vows, and spirituality, and drawing from Blessed Moreau’s trust in Divine Providence, confidence in the Cross as our only hope – Ave Crux, Spes Unica – and zeal to make God known, loved, and served. Holy Cross priests and brothers are called upon to be educators in the faith, who with a preferential option for the poor, educate both the mind and heart principally in the fields of education, parish, and mission. Our distinctive charism and trust in Divine Providence has guided Holy Cross members to found world-renowned institutes of Catholic higher education, parishes across the United States and Mexico, along with other important ministries on five continents. The Congregation of Holy Cross is a vibrant and committed community thriving today with Blessed Moreau’s original zeal and passion to love and serve the people of God. We are men with hope to bring! If you’re interested in a life of service to others as a Priest or Brother of Holy Cross, visit holycrossvocations.org.