2025-07-27 SJBC Sunday VMass – 17th Sunday In Ordinary Time

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time -------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.LaughlinCatholic.com www.osvhub.com/laughlincatholic/funds -------------------------------------------------------------------------- TODAY’S READINGS First Reading - Abraham bargains with God to spare the city (Genesis 18:20-32). Psalm – Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me (Psalm 138). Second Reading - Buried with Christ in baptism, we were also raised with him; all our transgressions are forgiven (Colossians 2:12-14). Gospel - Jesus speaks of God’s sure response to those who pray (Luke 11:1-13). ------------------------------------------------------------------------- KEEP PRAYING St. Monica, whose feast we celebrate in August is often known as “the persistent mother”. She watched her oldest son, Augustine, turn his back on his Christian faith. Monica was exasperated. For years she gave up talking directly to her son on the advice of a local bishop who told her that it was better to talk to God about Augustine than to Augustine about God. The mother never gave up praying for her son. Eventually Augustine gave up his wild ways, was baptized and later ordained and named bishop of Hippo. St. Augustine went on to become one of the Church’s greatest scholars. Today’s readings address the importance of persistent prayer. Abraham, in spite of trepidation that he is bothering the Lord, continues to ask about the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. Jesus, in Luke’s Gospel, tells his disciples to “ask and you will receive, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you” (Luke 11:9). This is our charge: KEEP PRAYING.