THURSDAY OF THE TWENTY-SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, OCTOBER 8, 2020

MASS READINGS

A Gospel according to LK 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father  among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

REFLECTION: "If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Sometimes, as a mother, I feel I am not doing enough for my family and children: the house is not tidy enough. Don't make as many home-cooked meals as I wished. Don't play with them as much as I hoped. Can't help them with their homework. Heck, I don't put post-its in their lunchboxes with sweet sayings.

We live in a society where women are expected to be super women. Do everything perfectly. Bake cookies, perform seamlessly at work, and run the PTA.

First and foremost, we do this out of love for our family. Unfortunately we tend to try to do everything ourselves, "perfectly", and neglect to delegate some of the chores. This makes us tired. Which leads to grouchiness. Which makes us look like we are always mad.

Households are never going to run perfectly. And we shouldn't expect that from ourselves either. Our desire to serve our loved ones gets derailed because of our own imperfections.

Sometimes, it is better to have a little bit of clutter; order take-out; take everybody for a walk; find a tutor for the kids; and buy chicken nuggets for their lunches.

How much better would it be if we surrender this imperfect love to Our Lord?

It is more important, especially in these times, to spend time teaching our children about our values, tradition, and religion.

Paraphrasing Mother Teresa of Kolkata, if we spend time in silence, we will have time to rest. And we will make time for prayer. With prayer, we will have faith. More faith, more love. More love, we will lovingly serve. When we lovingly serve one another, we will have peace.

Make time for some rest. For some peace. For prayer. And ask God for the graces you need to lovingly serve your family, and one another.

We, that are so imperfect, sincerely love our family. How much more would the Lord, who loves us perfectly, do for us ?

Pax Cor Christi.