The 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time | Sunday 23 October 2022

Today is Sunday the 23rd of October beginning the Thirtieth Week of Ordinary time.

Luke Parker sings ‘Sweet Surrender’. Are you able to make the words of this song your own today?

In my weakness You are strong
You hold my hand and hold my heart
I give it away now, I am on my knees
Offering all I am for You to see
I am thirsty for Your presence Lord
Sweet surrender is all I can give
Sweet surrender to You my offering
Jesus, You're all I'm living for
Holding on to You my Friend, my all
In Your fullness I am free
Help me Jesus to receive
In the secret place I'm on my knees
Reaching the deepest parts for You to see
Oh, I am thirsty for Your presence Lord
Sweet surrender is all I can give
Sweet surrender to You my offering
Jesus, You're all I'm living for
Holding on to You my Friend, my all
There is nothing more
There is nothing more I have
There is nothing more
There is nothing more I can give
There is nothing more
There is nothing more I have
There is nothing more I have to give
Sweet surrender is all I can give
Sweet surrender to You my offering
Jesus, You're all I'm living for
Holding on to You my Friend, my all

Today’s reading from the book of Ecclesiasticus gives us a few hints about the implications of living our lives filled with the utter fullness of God.

Ecc 35:12-14, 16-19

Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
and as generously as you can afford.
For the Lord is the one who repays,
and he will repay you sevenfold.
Do not offer him a bribe, for he will not accept it;
He will not show partiality to the poor;
but he will listen to the prayer of one who is wronged.
He will not ignore the supplication of the orphan,
or the widow when she pours out her complaint.
Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek
as she cries out against the one who causes them to fall?

‘Give to the Most High as he has given to you, and as generously as you can afford.’ Reflect for a moment on your life. What has God given you? Are you moved in your heart to give anything back?

This reading offers a challenge to you in your interactions with the people around you. What does it feel like to allow yourself to be challenged directly? What is your immediate response?

As you're listening to the reading again, can you see where in your life these words from God seem to be addressing?

Take these last few moments of this prayer time and allow whatever you want to speak to the Lord about, to flow like the tears running down the cheeks of the widow. Speak in all honesty and listen carefully to what God is saying to you in response.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.