29º DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO 2025

Un cordial saludo para todos ustedes, mis queridos hermanos y hermanas. Este fin de semana tenemos el festival parroquial, en el que se incluye la visita de la imagen de la Virgen de San Juan de los Lagos. Al igual que la Virgen salió presurosa a visitar a su parienta Isabel, también viene a estas tierras para avivar nuestra fe y acercarnos a su hijo Jesucristo. Viene para recordarnos que es madre de todos y cuida de cada uno de sus hijos con el mismo cariño y afecto con el que cuidó a su hijo Jesús. Viene para acompañarnos en estos tiempos difíciles que está atravesando este país, para estar con nosotros y consolarnos. También viene para fortalecer nuestra fe e interceder por cada una de nuestras necesidades. Viene porque quiere reunir a todos sus hijos y verlos compartir su fe como hermanos. Que esta sea una oportunidad para visitar a María, agradecerle todo lo que hace por nosotros y pedirle que presente nuestras necesidades a Jesús.

En el Evangelio de este domingo, Jesús nos enseña la importancia de orar constantemente para abrir nuestros corazones a la voluntad de Dios, y reconocer que él está dispuesto a responder a nuestras oraciones y a darnos lo que necesitamos conforme a su justicia divina. Las lecturas nos invitan a reconocer que, con fe y oración, podemos alcanzar la victoria contra nuestros enemigos. Permítanme compartir con ustedes estas preguntas: ¿Han librado alguna vez una batalla en su vida?, ¿Tuvieron a alguien a su lado cuando enfrentaron esas dificultades?, ¿quién fue?, ¿hay alguien en su familia, entre sus amigos o en su comunidad que les apoye para mantenerse firmes cuando atraviesan dificultades?, ¿ayudan a las personas a superarlas o a rendirse ante ellas?, ¿son constantes en sus oraciones?, ¿suelen recibir de Dios lo que piden?

La primera lectura del libro del Éxodo nos recuerda que la conquista de la Tierra Prometida no fue fácil para Israel, ya que tuvo que luchar mucho para conseguirla. El episodio de hoy nos cuenta el momento en que lucharon contra los amalecitas. Para ganar la batalla no solo fue necesario luchar en el campo de batalla, sino también contar con la intervención divina de Dios, encarnada en la figura de Moisés, Aarón y Jur, quienes le ayudaron a mantener los brazos levantados cuando se cansaba, para que los israelitas no perdieran la batalla. Moisés comprendió que se trataba de una batalla importante para su pueblo y que merecía la pena esforzarse por mantener los brazos en alto sin rendirse. Hermanos y hermanas, creo que esta lectura nos ofrece cuatro enseñanzas importantes para nuestra fe: La primera es saber distinguir las batallas importantes en nuestras vidas por las que merece la pena esforzarse para alcanzar la victoria.

En segundo lugar, aunque Dios está de nuestro lado, debemos hacer nuestra parte para conseguir la victoria.

En tercer lugar, no hay que rendirse, aunque la batalla nos cueste un gran esfuerzo y se prolongue en el tiempo. En cuarto lugar, para ganar algunas batallas necesitamos el apoyo de personas que nos animen cuando estamos a punto de rendirnos.

En el Evangelio, Jesús recalca la importancia de la oración en la vida cristiana y nos dice que, por muy desesperadas o difíciles que sean las circunstancias, debemos seguir orando y no rendirnos. Jesús también nos invita a confiar en Dios, porque tenemos un buen Padre que no nos abandona y nos ayuda a mantener los brazos en alto para librar cualquier batalla a la que nos enfrentemos para defender los buenos valores, el amor, la justicia, la paz y el perdón en nuestras familias y en nuestra sociedad. Queridos hermanos y hermanas, no debemos rendirnos cuando lo que estamos luchando es importante para nosotros y para la sociedad. Hoy les invito a pensar en las luchas o batallas a las que se enfrentan en su vida. Piensen si merecen la pena sus esfuerzos para ganarlas.

Pregúntense: ¿esta batalla o este esfuerzo es importante para mi vida, mi familia y mi sociedad?, ¿qué valores están en juego?, ¿me hará mejor persona? Si no merece la pena esforzarse, es mejor que bajen los brazos y lo dejen pasar. También les invito a pensar en las personas que les apoyan en sus luchas, en quienes les ayudan a superar sus dificultades, y a darles las gracias. Pero piensen también en las personas a las que ustedes apoyan y den gracias al Señor por darles la oportunidad de ayudar a alguien que lo necesita. Recuerden que la ayuda espiritual más fuerte siempre viene de

Dios y que, a veces, él se manifiesta a través de las personas que nos apoyan para que no nos rindamos en nuestras pruebas. Sigan orando en todo momento.

No pierdan la fe y recuerden que no están solos, pues Dios Padre, a través de su Espíritu Santo, siempre está con nosotros. Terminemos parafraseando las palabras de san Pablo a Timoteo: «Permanece firme en lo que has aprendido, lee y estudia la Palabra de Dios y proclámala. Sé constante en la oración, convence, reprende, anima con toda paciencia y sabiduría en el nombre del Señor». Amén.

P. Luis Segura

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29th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025

A cordial greeting to all of you, my dear brothers and sisters. This weekend we have the parish festival, which includes the visit of the statue of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos. Just as Our Lady hastened to visit her relative Elizabeth, she also comes to these lands to revive our faith and bring us closer to her son, Jesus Christ. She comes to remind us that she is the mother of all and cares for each of her children with the same love and affection with which she cared for her son, Jesus. She comes to accompany us in these difficult times this country is going through, to be with us and comfort us. She also comes to strengthen our faith and intercede for each of our needs. She comes because she wants to gather all her children together and see them share their faith as brothers and sisters. May this be an opportunity to visit Mary, thank her for all she does for us, and ask her to present our needs to Jesus.

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus teaches us the importance of praying constantly to open our hearts to God's will and recognize that he is willing to answer our prayers and give us what we need according to his divine justice. The readings invite us to recognize that, with faith and prayer, we can achieve victory over our enemies. Let me share these questions with you: Have you ever fought a battle in your life? Did you have someone by your side when you faced those difficulties? Who was it? Is there someone in your family, among your friends, or in your community who supports you in standing firm when you face difficulties? Do you help people overcome them or give up in the face of them? Are you constant in your prayers? Do you usually receive from God what you ask for?

The first reading from the Book of Exodus reminds us that the conquest of the Promised Land was not easy for Israel, as they had to fight hard to achieve it. Today's episode tells us about the time they fought against the Amalekites. Winning the battle required not only fighting on the battlefield, but also relying on God's divine intervention, embodied in the figures of Moses, Aaron, and Hur, who helped him keep his arms raised when he grew tired, so that the Israelites would not lose the battle. Moses understood that this was an important battle for his people and that it was worth the effort to keep his arms raised without giving up. Brothers and sisters, I believe this reading offers us four important lessons for our faith: The first is to know how to distinguish the important battles in our lives that are worth striving for in order to achieve victory.

Secondly, although God is on our side, we must do our part to achieve victory.

Third, we must not give up, even if the battle takes a great deal of effort and time. Fourth, to win some battles, we need the support of people who encourage us when we're about to give up.

In the Gospel, Jesus emphasizes the importance of prayer in the Christian life and tells us that, no matter how desperate or difficult the circumstances, we must continue to pray and not give up. Jesus also invites us to trust in God, because we have a good Father who does not abandon us and helps us keep our arms raised to fight any battle we face to defend good values, love, justice, peace, and forgiveness in our families and in our society. Dear brothers and sisters, we must not give up when what we are fighting is important for us and for society. Today I invite you to think about the struggles or battles you face in your life. Consider whether your efforts to win them are worth it.

Ask yourselves: Is this battle or this effort important for my life, my family, and my society? What values ​​are at stake? Will it make me a better person? If it's not worth the effort, it's better to give up and let it go. I also invite you to think about the people who support you in your struggles, those who help you overcome your difficulties, and to thank them. But also think about the people you support and thank the Lord for giving you the opportunity to help someone in need. Remember that the strongest spiritual help always comes from God and that, sometimes, He manifests Himself through the people who support us so that we don't give up in our trials. Continue to pray at all times.

Do not lose faith and remember that you are not alone, for God the Father, through his Holy Spirit, is always with us. Let us conclude by paraphrasing Saint Paul's words to Timothy: "Remain firm in what you have learned, read and study the Word of God and proclaim it. Be constant in prayer, convince, rebuke, and encourage with all patience and wisdom in the name of the Lord." Amen.

Fr. Luis Segura

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Faith Nourished by Consistent Prayer Life…

The Gospel from today’s Liturgy concludes with a troubling question posed by Jesus: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8); as if to say: “when I come again at the end of time” — but we could also think, even now, at this time of life — “will I find a bit of faith in you, in your world?” This is a serious question. Let us imagine that the Lord came on earth today. Unfortunately, he would see many wars, much poverty and many inequalities, and at the same time, tremendous technical achievements, modern means, and people who are always rushing, who never stop. But would he find someone who dedicates time and affection to him, someone who would put him in first

place?

We often focus on so many urgent but unnecessary things. We occupy and preoccupy ourselves with so many secondary realities. And perhaps without even realizing it, we neglect what matters most and we allow our love for God to grow cold, to grow cold bit by bit. Today, Jesus offers us the remedy to rekindle a tepid faith. And what is the remedy? Prayer. Prayer is the medicine for faith, it is a tonic for the soul. However, it needs to be constant prayer. If we must undergo a treatment to get better, it is important to follow it well, to take the medicine consistently and regularly in the right way and at the

right times. This is necessary in all of life. Let us think of a houseplant: we have to water it consistently every day. We cannot soak it and then leave it without water for weeks!

Even more so with prayer. We cannot live only on strong moments of prayer or occasional intense encounters, and then “go into hibernation”. Our faith will dry up. We need the daily water of prayer, we need time dedicated to God, so that he can enter into our time, into our lives; consistent moments in which we open our hearts to him so that he can daily pour out on us love, peace, joy, strength, hope, thus nourishing our faith.

This is why Jesus says to his disciples today — to everyone, not only to some! — “that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (v. 1). Now someone might object: “But how can I do that? I don’t live in a convent. I don’t have much time to pray!” Perhaps a wise spiritual practice which is a bit forgotten today, and which our elderly, especially the grandmothers, know well, can come to our aid with this real difficulty. What are they? They are very short, easy to memorize prayers that can be repeated often throughout the day, in the course of various activities, to remain “in tune” with the Lord. For example, as soon as we awaken, we can say: “Lord, I thank you and I offer this day to you”. This is a short prayer. Then, before an activity, we can repeat, “Come, Holy Spirit”. Between one thing and another, we can pray thus, “Jesus, I trust in you. Jesus, I love you”. Really short prayers that help us stay in contact with the Lord. How often we send text messages to the people we love! Let us do this with the Lord as well so that our hearts remain connected to him. And let us not forget to read his responses. The Lord always responds. Where do we find them? In the Gospel which should always be kept at hand and should be opened several times every day, to receive a Word of life directed to us.

May the Virgin Mary, faithful listener, teach us the art of praying always, without losing heart. [Synthesized from Pope Francis, Angelus, 16 X 22]

Rev. Jos Rajesh Peter M.S.C

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

My friends, in today’s short yet powerful gospel, Jesus continues his teaching about Faith, as He has done for the past two weeks.  Today, Jesus tells a parable about a widow and her persistence.  Jesus teaches us how to increase our faith through relentless prayer.

During the time of Jesus, widows who had no one to care for them were very poor.  There was no life insurance at the time, so poor widows had to earn a living somehow – cleaning, sewing, cooking for others.  Widows were also easy prey for unscrupulous people.  A widow could give in with the attitude of “That’s the way things are” – or – she could refuse to give in and fight her oppressor, as we heard in today’s gospel.  This poor widow in today’s gospel kept pestering the godless judge until he finally ruled in her favor against her adversary.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM offers some valuable insights regarding today’s gospel: 

• Jesus uses this contrast to show that – if a heartless judge will respond to persistence, how much more will a loving God answer the prayers of his people. 

•  A primary point of this parable is that God is nothing like the corrupt judge. We should not think of prayer as wearing down an unwilling deity. Instead, the story contrasts the unjust human system with God's ultimate and eager desire to provide justice for the marginalized.

• The widow is a hero of the story because she embodies resilient faith and action in the face of injustice. In a society where widows were often powerless, her relentless pursuit models how believers should never lose heart, even when a system seems stacked against them.

• The widow's prayer is not a private, passive request but rather an active demand for justice.

My friends, at the end of our gospel, Jesus asks 3 questions:

1.    “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night ?”

2.    “Will he be slow to answer them ?”

3.    “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth ?"

Regarding the first question, Prayer is not limited to “formal prayers.”  I would suspect many – if not most – people would find it impossible to say “formal prayers” day and night.  Prayer is communicating with God through our own thoughts and words.  A prayer could be just a few words; or just thinking about God; or thinking about what Jesus said in one of the Gospels.  Prayer is also listening to God.  What God is saying to me today, right now ?

Regarding the second question and justice being done speedily, it’s easy to think that God has not answered our prayers.  Remember, no one knows the mind of God and perhaps the answer to our prayer is that God is waiting for us to change our ways or thoughts or opinions.

The third question of quite poignant.  As mentioned earlier, Faith is the topic or theme for three weeks in a row:

• Faith the size of a mustard seed can uproot a huge Mulberry Tree and plant it in the sea.

•  Faith in God can heal lepers who cry out to God for help.

•  And today, Christ Jesus asks if he will find faith on earth.  The answer is a resounding “Yes!”  There will be faith on earth because we are the faithful – full of faith.  We have come by this faith through the teachings of Jesus; by gathering together to listen to the word of God and celebrate the Eucharist as a faith community.  There will be faith on earth also because the love of God will be proclaimed by missionaries throughout the world.

I believe that the most important thing to remember is that Jesus told this parable for our benefit…

Today is World Mission Sunday.  Pope Leo has a video explaining what World Mission Sunday is all about and how Catholic missions throughout  the world are supported and how these missions contribute in spreading the faith in places where marginalized people might not receive the Good News of Christ.  The link to the video is below and also at the top of the Home Page of our website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEwDtbZxt4c