Newsletter 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) 20th July 2025

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) 20th July 2025.pdf

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Gospel Reflection:

“Martha, Martha, you worry and fret about many things; and yet few are needed, indeed only one (only one thing is necessary). 

It is Mary who has chosen the better part (that is prayer);

it is not to be taken from her.”

Our Lord told us that prayer is the one thing necessary.

In other words, Our Lord told us nothing is necessary except prayer.

People may argue what about food- surely that is necessary.

Luisa Piccarreta is an example. 

She lived on Holy Communion for 64 years.  No food and water. 

So, food is not necessary.

We also know that God can multiply food or produce food from nothing for example: when he multiplied loaves and fish.

Then you may argue – what about sleep – surely necessary?

St Padre Pio once said to a friend that he hadn’t slept for 3 years because he prayed instead.

Then you may argue – that things have to get done.

My house needs to be cleaned; my lawns need to be mowed. I have to work to earn money.

St Isidore lived from 1070 to 1130. 

He was a labourer on a farm outside of Madrid, Spain. 

His employer on one occasion found St Isidore in prayer while an angel did the ploughing for him.

The Lord might do that for you.

There may be a time in the future where some of us will have no access to food or money.  We shouldn’t “worry and fret” because God may provide.

However, what is needed is prayer.

The saints in heaven don’t need food or sleep.

Our Lord is increasingly giving us on earth the Grace to live “as it is in heaven.”

God is restoring His Kingdom, where there will no longer be food or sleep.

In heaven, the saints are always in perfect prayer.

In today’s Gospel, Our Lord is asking us to put God as our all and everything.

To put His Kingdom above this kingdom to live according to the Holy Spirit and not according to the flesh.

Firstly, begin the day with a good amount of time in prayer. 

Bishop Fulton Sheen recommended to start each day with one hour a day in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. 

For the last 60 years of his life there was not a single day where he didn’t do his Holy Hour and yet he was a Bishop with responsibilities of a diocese, on top of that he had a weekly radio program and a weekly television program which was the most watched television program in the U.S. 

On top of that he gave retreats, opened a leper colony and wrote 80 books.  Bishop Sheen said you will accomplish more each day if you pray an hour each day.  His life is a testimony to that.

Secondly, Pray throughout the day: Our Lord said pray constantly.  St Paul wrote: “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God for you.” 

God made us to be in constant prayer.

We naturally want to be in the deepest possible union with Him.

We long to be loved as only God can love us.

The Rosary is one form of prayer which, traditionally has been used in order to pray constantly.  

St Bernadette, our Patron, for example, her blood sister Antoinette said of her:

“Bernadette did not seem to know what else to do but recite the Rosary.” 

After Our Lady appeared to St Bernadette at Lourdes,

St Bernadette could not be separated from her heavenly Mother. 

Another person who used the Rosary in order to pray constantly was St Padre Pio who died in 1968.

When St Padre Pio was asked why he prayed the Rosary continually he replied, “My Mother has never refused me anything.” 

Of course, there are many prayers in the Church’s tradition that have been used for constant prayer, ie. repeating continuously, ‘Jesus and Mary I love you.  Save souls.’

Or just the name ‘Jesus” or singing hymns. 

Other prayers include the Angelus prayed 3 different times a day, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, prayed at 3pm each day, (the Divine Office which can be prayed at 7 different times of the day) and daily Mass.

A fourth tip is to make sacrifices throughout the day for the love of Jesus and for the conversion of sinners or for any intention. 

For example, saying no to worldly pleasures, putting up with an annoying person, not getting upset when humiliated or rejected. 

All sacrifices help to keep us in continuous awareness of Jesus, providing we do them for love of Jesus or for a particular intention,  

(ie. “I will endure the headache in order for my brother to be converted.”)

This is living as Our Lord did.

Our Lord became a constant sacrifice or oblation for all creatures.

Everything we do should be done for the glory and honour of God and for an intention. 

Every thought, word, act, every breath, every physical movement, every desire, every emotion and every sacrifice.

Everything we do can be done for the glory of God, for the conversion of sinners and for the reparation of sins.

This is living as Our Lord did.  Every act or heartbeat Our Lord did, He did out of His love for us that every person would receive all of His Grace or all of His Holy Spirit.

IN THIS WAY – EVERY ACT WE DO OR EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIFE sanctifies us and sanctifies the whole world, and therefore, help re-establish God’s Kingdom on the earth.