Sunday Readings for October 18-19, Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Edward Looney | For On Mission
The reading from the second letter of St. Paul to Timothy this weekend is rich with opportunities to reflect upon our personal history of faith. St. Paul writes, “You know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures” (2 Tm 3:14-15).
At least two questions arise from this passage for reflection: Who have been the instrumental people in teaching you the faith? What are your earliest memories of the Scriptures?
At every Baptism I celebrate, I am reminded of the responsibility entrusted to parents and godparents to raise the child in the faith. A child’s parents should be the first teachers of the faith. Perhaps that was true for you, and you recall the many spiritual lessons they taught and the witness they gave.
For others, like me, faith may have been nurtured by someone else. My grandmother was the one from whom I learned much about the Catholic faith — developing an appreciation for the Mass and for prayer to Our Lady. As my faith life grew, I, as a seminarian, priest, and theologian, have continued to add people to the list of those from whom I have learned what I believe. They include teachers, professors, and even the saints, whose writings have taught me so much.
The second point from St. Paul — the Scriptures known from infancy — takes on new meaning for us today. St. Paul would have been referring to the Scriptures of the Old Testament, the texts near and dear to our Jewish brothers and sisters. For us, the canon of Scripture now includes the Gospels and New Testament letters.
If you grew up in a believing household, the Scriptures may have been a part of your upbringing — perhaps first with a children’s Bible, then through learning the stories more deeply. One of the first Gospels I remember learning about in religious education was the Gospel of Luke, which includes the story of the Good Samaritan. I still remember the challenge given that day to find ways to be a Good Samaritan to others.
If you came to faith later in life, you could trace the growth of your faith journey from the moment you first believed, watching how it matured from its infancy to where it is today.
Memory is a tremendous gift. As a people of faith, we remember those who were important in our faith development. We believe today because we trusted and respected them as communicators of the faith. For them, we are grateful, and we offer prayers to the Lord for their well-being or eternal rest.
The Scriptures from our youth remain with us, guiding our thoughts and actions. God’s Word is powerful, and from it we are taught, corrected and trained for the spiritual life. If it’s been a while since you opened your Bible, I encourage you to find it, open it up, and begin reading it again. If you need a place to start, return to a passage you remember from your youth. One that comes to mind for me is the story of Daniel in the lions’ den. I’m sure if I revisited it today, I would have much different thoughts than when I read my children’s Bible.
The readings for Sunday, October 19, can be found at Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB.
Fr. Edward Looney serves as the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Shawano. He is an author, podcaster, and has a presence on various social media platforms at the handle @FrEdwardLooney.