Sunday July 24, 2022

See the Calendar of Reflections (NEW!)

DISCOVER TODAY: We must continually rely on God’s Spirit in order to resist temptations and grow in faith.

Good News Reflection for:

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 24, 2022

Today’s Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, because You look for me every day with Your Fatherly love. Heal in me all the negative images I have of You. I want to surrender all my being to Your loving arms. Amen.

Subscribe to Today’s Saint Quote & Prayer:
gnm.org/SaintQuotes/

Today’s Readings:

Genesis 18:20-32
Ps 138:1-3, 6-8
Colossians 2:12-14
Luke 11:1-13
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072422.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/2022-07-24

How to pray with faith

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus teaches us how to pray with faith. Notice that his parable does not say that we can get everything we ask for. Not everything is good for us; the “bread” that runs as a theme through this scripture is the life of holiness. The “Bread of Life” is Jesus. The gift of the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life, is a holy life.

Notice also that the visitor in the parable is a friend of God, not a stranger, who wants to share the bread with another friend. This represents a baptized Christian who wants to share the friendship of God (“three loaves” — the Trinity) with others, but he or she is inadequate for the task.

When we knock on the door to God’s heart seeking help for our inadequacies, the Father gives us his fully adequate Holy Spirit. And that’s not all we get! Whenever we pray, this Holy Spirit connects us to the Father and to Jesus. Therefore, every prayer increases our holiness, brings us closer to God and empowers us to be more like Jesus. But holiness does not come quickly nor easily. We must be persistent in our prayer lives. We must continually rely on God’s Spirit in order to resist temptations and grow in faith, especially today, the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

No matter what we ask God to share with us, including the material things that we need or desire, God wants to use it to nourish our souls. This is what we ask for when we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Be persistent. Receiving God’s bread usually doesn’t happen overnight (we’re slow learners).

It’s the devil who says we can have everything we ask for as fast as we want it. New Age and occult practices are fast-food spiritualities that are riddled with the dangerously unhealthy fat of false beliefs. They lack the growth in holiness that we can only receive from the Holy Spirit. Many people turn to the occult because they don’t have the desire to do the hard work of holiness.

The supernatural adequacies of the Holy Spirit are ours for the asking, because we already received the Holy Spirit during baptism. However, to live in God’s supernatural power, we have to pray persistently, identify our sins and repent, purge our lives of selfish motives, and humbly open ourselves to the holiness of the Holy Spirit.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
How much do you rely on the Holy Spirit’s help in your daily life? How often do you humble yourself before the Lord in prayer and ask for an increase of holiness?

Questions for Family & Community Faith Sharing:
Describe your prayer life. How does it help you become holier in your daily activities? How has the Holy Spirit purified you?

Thank you for reflecting with us on this 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time!

To help you reflect further on this, go to our video: “3 Keys in Turbulent Times to Grow Closer to Christ” @ https://gnm-media.org/3-keys-in-turbulent-times-to-grow-closer-to-christ/

© 2022 by Terry A. Modica

Please minister to others by sharing this reflection: Please don’t alter it or create your own mailing list. By giving credit where it’s due, you help Good News Ministries while also giving your friends the opportunity to discover more Good News.

Join the conversation on this reflection at

Post your prayer request.

How else can we serve you today? Visit our homepage.

Please share this with others by inviting them to visit this page. You may also print this for your personal use and you may share the print-out with others.