Readings for Oct. 19-20, Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Edward Looney | For On Mission
If you could ask Jesus for anything, what would it be? This question shouldn’t be that difficult to answer because we often ask the Lord for graces when we pray to him, both daily and in a time of urgent need.
I still recall last weekend’s reading from Wisdom: “I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded, and the spirit of wisdom came to me.” A person prayed and they received from the goodness of God. Our readings this weekend pick up that same sentiment.
In the Gospel, with great boldness, James and John approach Jesus and state, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” Probably sounds familiar. Sometimes that’s how you and I approach prayer. Almost with a demand of Jesus, “Here’s my request, now do something. Jesus, I want you to do what I want you to do.”
In Jesus’ response, he asks, “What do you wish me to do for you?” This isn’t the only time that Jesus would ask a question along that line. To Bartimaeus, Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” In both instances, Jesus already knows their request, but he wants them to approach and ask.
James and John ask something absurd; Bartimaeus asks for his sight. The request of James and John leads to Jesus offering an important teaching on humility and serving others. They wanted to ask Jesus for something. Jesus allowed them to ask, and then Jesus acted and spoke as he saw fit.
In the second reading today from Hebrews, the author writes, “[L]et us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.” Like James and John who approached Jesus, today we still approach Jesus, who is seated on the throne of grace. We approach Jesus with great confidence that he cares about us, our situation and will come to our aid.
The beautiful thing about our Catholic faith is that we can approach the throne of Jesus with other heavenly helpers, too, as we turn to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph and other saints.
Recently, someone shared with me about finding a saintly intercessor. With that saint, they approached the throne of God’s mercy for divine help. There are so many holy men and women who have causes for sainthood, such as Adele Brise (who — in Champion — witnessed the first and only approved Marian apparition in the United States). With her and through her intercession, we can approach God’s throne so that God might be pleased to both help us and glorify his servant.
Take heed of the example of others who have approached the Lord, both in Scriptures and throughout Christian history. Time and again, we are reminded that God hears our prayers.
What do you want to ask Jesus for today?
Ask, listen and do not relent in approaching the throne of grace. With the help of the saints, who intercede on our behalf, we will receive abundant grace and mercy which flows from the throne of God.
Fr. Looney is the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawano, and priest celebrant at St. Martin of Tours Parish, Cecil. He is the author of the new Advent devotional “Praying with the Church Through Advent.”
The readings for Sunday, Oct. 20, can be found at Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB.