Discussion Questions
First Reading
Genesis 18:20-32a
F1. What do you learn about God in this story? How does God respond to Abraham’s persistence? If God has entered into a covenant with humankind does he grant them power over his heart?
F2. What do you learn about Abraham in the story? What behavior of his would you like to imitate? How important were persistence and candor to him? God and Abraham: what is each one willing to do because of this covenant?
Second Reading
Colossians 2:12-14
S1. “… (H)e brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us … our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us … ” Why would this action of Christ (the complete demolition or razing of the wall between God and mankind) allow the children of God to ask the Father for all they need, or allow us to ask—and know we will receive, as in today’s Gospel?
S2. Compare translations: our translation from the liturgy refers to Jesus “having forgiven us all our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us … ” The New Jerusalem Bible renders this as “ … he has forgiven us every one of our sins. He has wiped out the record of our debt to the Law, which stood against us.” Does one of these translations make it easier for you to appreciate what Jesus did for us?
Gospel
Luke 11:1-13
G1. How is the sleepy father in the parable similar to God? How are they different? Do you have confidence that God will hear you knock on his door? What do the readings this week do for your confidence? Do you think God already knows all your prayers of petition? Are your prayers of thanksgiving and praise spontaneous or studied?
G2. In giving us the “Lord’s Prayer,” does Jesus include us with him as brothers and sisters with God as our father? Why does Pope Francis say that this might be the most precious gift Jesus gave us during his earthly mission?
He delivers the “Lord’s Prayer” to them, perhaps the most precious gift left to us by the Divine Master during his earthly mission. After revealing to us his mystery as Son and brother, with that prayer Jesus allows us to enter into God’s paternity. I want to underscore this: when Jesus teaches us the “Our Father,” he allows us to enter into God’s paternity and he points the way to enter into a prayerful and direct dialogue with him, through the path of filial intimacy. It is a dialogue between a father and his son, of a son with his father.
What we ask in the “Our Father” is already fulfilled for us in his Only-begotten Son: the sanctification of the Name, the advent of the Kingdom, the gift of bread, of forgiveness and of delivery from evil. As we ask, we open our hand to receive. To receive the gifts that the Father has shown us in his Son, … always in communion with our brothers and sisters. … We often feel the need to stop at the first word, “Father,” and feel that paternity in our heart.
Angelus for 17th Sun
Pope Francis, 2019
Anne Osdieck
**From Saint Louis University