Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 20 October 2013

Fr Robin Gibbons

Twenty Ninth Sunday of the Year C

Paul reminds us that Scripture is the primary ingredient for our life in and with God, not only is it ‘the wisdom that leads to salvation’ - but it continually teaches us how to discover Christ and his kingdom. We are also reminded of the task we are given, to hand on its teaching to others (that’s the real meaning of tradition) by living and proclaiming through our lives the command of love. Scripture is one of the foundation stones of faith.

But that doesn’t mean all scriptural texts hold equal weight. The fact that Joshua won the battle for Israel over the Amelkites, as described in Exodus, was a significant step on the biblical journey of Israel. Moses and Aaron lead the people in prayer, arms outstretched Moses acts as a sign of hope, but the battle also ends in many deaths, those of Amalek and his people.

Is that what prayer is about? Is that what Moses asked for?

It is important we see scriptural passages in their context. We need guidance on what is important. As Paul tells us we need to listen to those who teach, and in our case learn that the focus is on the message of salvation found in Jesus.

Scripture and prayer go together; there are techniques of using bits of the Bible for reflection such as the monastic tradition of Lectio Divina. This is meditative reading, letting the Word speak to us! Then we find words of deep prayer such as the psalms and the canticles of both the Old Testament and the New Testament which form part of our common liturgical prayer each day.

Jesus teaches us how to pray in the Gospels, for the Christian that prayer of all prayers, the Our Father is taught to us as it was to his disciples. One example of a particular manner of praying is given to us in the parable of unjust judge and the pestering widow. Luke helps us understand that Jesus teaching on praying continually and not losing heart, to pester God as it were and not worry about it. If we are serious about our desire for God and our love of the Lord Jesus then we are told to keep on in prayer. That is what Moses did, kept faith in prayer with God. Jesus asks us to do the same.

On Wednesday evening, Fr Robin gave the first autumn Faith Matters 2013 Lecture at Westminster Cathedral. To see a video of his lecture click here: http://rcdow.org.uk/news/faith-matters-lecture-father-robert-gibbons