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frmartinshomiliesandreflections · 13 days ago

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16th November >> Fr. Martin's Reflections/Homilies on Today's Mass Readings for Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time (Inc. Luke 18:1-8): ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’.

Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Except USA) Luke 18:1-8 The parable of the unjust judge.

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.”’ And the Lord said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’

Gospel (USA) Luke 18:1-8 Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Reflections (8)

(i) Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Jesus was aware that there was always a temptation for people of faith to lose heart, especially when they found themselves faced with hostility. According to today’s gospel reading, Jesus’ parable of the widow and the judge was about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. It portrays a widow who refuses to lose heart even when repeatedly faced with an unjust judge who refused to defend her rights, as he was obliged to do. There was every reason for her to lose heart. The judge was a powerful man and she was a powerless woman. Yet, she persevered with her plea for justice and eventually wore down the unjust judge. Jesus sees in the dogged perseverance of this widow the kind of faith that his followers need to have. That is why in his comment on the parable, Jesus asks the question, ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’ Will he find the kind of persevering faith that the widow displayed or will he find that people of faith have lost heart in the face of evil and injustice? The introduction to the parable suggests that it is continuous prayer that gives rise to persevering faith, a faith that never loses heart, ‘Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart’. We give expression to our faith in calm, trusting, constant prayer, but such prayer also keeps our faith strong, especially in the face of hostility, injustice and evil. In prayer we open ourselves to receive the strength that the Lord gives which allows us to face what we could not otherwise face if left to our own resources. As Saint Paul says in his letter to the Philippians, ‘I can do all things in him who strengthens me’.

And/Or

(ii) Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

The temptation to lose heart is always with us. We can be very tempted to discouragement especially in the times in which we live. As people of faith we can be tempted to lose heart in these difficult days for the church. According to this morning’s gospel reading it was that temptation of believers to lose heart that Jesus had in mind when he spoke the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. Here was a woman who refused to lose heart, even though she was facing a judge who neither feared God nor had any respect for other people. This powerless widow was being faced down by a powerful judge; the odds were all stacked against her. Yet, she refused to give up because she knew that justice was on her side. She refused to lose heart. Jesus puts this woman before us as a model of persevering faith in the face of almost insurmountable obstacles. At the end of his comment on this parable, Jesus asks the question, ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’ Jesus is asking if he will find the kind of resilient faith that typified the widow or, rather, will he find that people have lost heart and given up the struggle to believe. God’s faithfulness is not in question. The question mark is over our faithfulness. According to Luke Jesus spoke this parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. The primary way we keep faithful when times are difficult is through prayer.

And/Or

(iii) Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

The figure of the widow in that parable is a wonderful portrayal of the refusal to get discouraged, even when everything goes against you and you come up against the worst instincts of other people. The widow encountered a judge who had no respect for God or other people, and yet she kept coming to him until she got the justice she was entitled to. Jesus paints this picture of a persevering widow who refuses to get discouraged because it captures the kind of faith that he is looking for from his disciples. Having spoken the parable, Jesus asks the question, ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’ Jesus is asking, when he comes back at the end of time, will be find a faith which has the same quality of dogged perseverance that the widow displayed. Jesus is calling for a faith that endures, that refuses to give up, even when all the supports for faith seem to be taken away. These have been difficult times for people of faith. We have all experienced the temptation to discouragement. Yet, Jesus is saying in this morning’s gospel reading that to be a believer is to be a persistent believer. The supreme example of a persistent believer was Jesus himself. In spite of the evil he encountered in various forms, he remained faithful to the end, even as he hung on the cross. The widow is a Jesus figure. Like her, we are all called to have something of Jesus’ persevering faith.

And/Or

(iv) Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

It is often the case that some of the characters in the parables that Jesus speaks often leave a lot to be desired. That is the case with the judge in this morning’s parable. He is described as someone who had ‘neither fear of God nor respect for man’. For a long time he refused to give justice to the widow who kept coming to him. Perhaps being a widow she could not offer him any financial incentive and that was what he was used to. This kind of scenario was part of life that Jesus clearly observed. Yet, Jesus was able to take an unsatisfactory situation like this and show how it had some redeeming feature that could speak to us of our relationship with God. The redeeming feature in this situation was the widow and her refusal to give up hope or to lose heart. She kept seeking justice for herself in spite of the evil that she was up against. Eventually, she wore the judge down and she received the justice she was entitled to. Jesus is saying that we have something to learn from this widow. God is not like the judge in the story. As Jesus says, God will see justice done to those who cry out to him day and night. The question is, ‘Are we like the widow?’ That is the question Jesus asks at the end of the parable, ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’ Will he find the kind of persevering faith that the widow displayed, a faith that endures even in the face of repeated disappointment? Luke’s introduction to Jesus’ parable suggests that this kind of faith finds expression in a prayer that is constant and persistent, trusting and calm.

And/Or

(v) Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

As believers in today’s world, it can be tempting to lose heart at times. We can sense that faith in God and in his Son Jesus, being part of the faith community we call church, is not greatly valued by today’s commentators. We can also lose heart as believers for more personal reasons. We encounter some great suffering and we wonder where God is in it all. We feel some injustice has been done to us and we conclude that God has not stood by us. According to today’s gospel reading, Jesus spoke the parable of the judge and the widow to encourage his disciples not to lose heart but to keep on praying, to pray continuously, even in times of great darkness. By means of this parable Jesus is encouraging us to have a persistent faith. The widow is an example of such persistent faith. When an injustice was done to her, she did not lose heart. She kept hammering away at the judge who alone could grant her justice until he caved in to her demands, fearful perhaps that she would resort to violence if he didn’t respond to her. Jesus is encouraging us to have something of the gutsy determination of the widow. Our persistent prayer is not to an unjust judge who couldn’t care less about God or his fellow human beings. We pray to a God who is passionately concerned about us. All the more reason why we should have a persistent faith that finds expression in continual prayer. Having spoken the parable, Jesus asks the question, ‘When the Son of Man comes will he find any faith on earth?’ When he comes at the end of time, will he find people of the kind of persistent faith displayed by the widow, or will his disciples have lost heart by then, worn down by the trials of life. It is a question that puts it up to us, in the words of the letter to the Hebrew, ‘to run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith’.

And/Or

(vi) Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

The situation that Jesus depicts in this morning’s parable is one that will always have a contemporary ring to it. A woman without status in the culture looks for justice from a powerful figure whose responsibility it is to see that justice is done, and, yet, for long periods her legitimate pleas for justice go unheard. A vulnerable individual finds herself up against a powerful institution and, even though she has right on her side, she is ignored. Such a scenario can be found in every age. Yet, this story ends up having an unexpected ending. The powerless woman turns out to be powerful after all; the powerful judge becomes powerless before the woman’s persistent plea. In his comment on the parable, Jesus emphasizes that God is not like the judge in the story. The judge neither feared God nor respected people. God, in contrast, is a God of justice who, at the end of the day, will ensure that those who are deprived of justice will receive it. If the widow never lost heart even though she was up against an unjust judge, then surely we need not lose heart before the God whom Jesus reveals. Surely we can be faithful and persevering in our pleas, our prayers, to the Father of Jesus who is also our Father. Yet, the question Jesus asks at the end of the gospel reading raises the possibility that we may not be as faithful and persevering as the widow was, ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’ Jesus implies that faith, if it is to endure, must find expression in continual and persevering prayer.

And/Or

(vii) Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

The depiction of the widow in today’s parable is of a very strong woman who will stop at nothing to get justice for herself. When an injustice is done to us or to someone else, it will often galvanize us into action on our own behalf or on behalf of others. People will fight tooth and nail to get justice for themselves and for those who are dear to them. The widow in the parable is clearly a fighter. She is up against an unjust judge, which is a contradiction in terms. She is a vulnerable woman, a widow, who takes on a powerful man, a judge. Yet, in this unequal contest, it is the widow who emerges victorious. She wears down the unjust judge until he gives her what she wants, what she is entitled to. While the judge is depicted in our gospel reading as saying, ‘I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death’, the more literal translation of ‘worry me to death’ would be ‘give me a black eye’. Jesus sees in this feisty widow a quality that his disciples need. They will need something of her persevering and trusting faith, the kind of faith that remains strong in the face of injustice and rejection. When Jesus asks in his comment on the parable, ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’ he wonders aloud whether he will find people of such persevering and enduring faith when he comes at the end of time. Luke’s introduction to Jesus’ parable suggests that such persevering faith, a faith that doesn’t lose heart, is the fruit of continual prayer. The faith that endures to the end is ultimately a gift from God that is given to those who keep opening themselves to receive it in prayer.

And/Or

(viii) Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

It can be tempting for many people to lose heart in these days. We feel that so much has been put on hold. We seem to be waiting endlessly for things to come right. People of faith miss not being able to gather with other believers to celebrate Mass. Priests feel the loss of the community of faith at Mass. The parable in today’s gospel reading speaks directly into that situation. The widow had many reasons to lose heart. Even though she had right on her side and was entitled to receive justice from the judge, she had the misfortune to come up against a judge who had no fear of God or respect for others. She could easily have given up but she didn’t. She somehow found the energy to keep coming to the judge until, eventually, the judge, for reasons of self-interest, gave her the justice she was entitled to all along. The judge was a powerful figure in that culture and the woman, as a widow, had no power. She was among the vulnerable and weak. Yet, she proved stronger than the judge in the end. She never lost heart. Jesus spoke that parable to encourage all of us to keep the faith, to keep praying to God, never giving up hope, never losing heart. We have all the more reason than the widow never to lose heart because she was up against an unjust judge whereas we are engaging with a loving God who cares for us in all the details of our lives. Yet, at the end of the gospel reading, Jesus wonders aloud if he will find the kind of persevering faith among his followers that was displayed by the woman. ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’ Perhaps we could each answer that question of Jesus this morning by saying, ‘Yes, you will’. The gospel reading encourages us to resist the temptation to lose heart. It calls on us to keep praying, trusting that the Lord will not fail us in the end.

Fr. Martin Hogan.

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swanoopdev · 1 year ago

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Saturday of week 32 in Ordinary Time: PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER BEARS FRUITS

Luke 18:1-8

There are various forms of prayer are presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2623-2649). These various forms include prayer of blessing or adoration, prayer of petition, prayer of intercession, prayer of thanksgiving, and prayer of praise. These prayers could be verbal or silent. We may adapt various forms of prayer to express dependency in God.

In the Gospel reading of today. Jesus narrates and set example of a parable of a widow, who has been persistently asking for the mercy of the king.

To persist in prayer and not give up does not mean endless repletion or painfully long prayer sessions. Always means keeping our requests constantly before God as we live for him day by day, believing he will answer. When we live by faith, we are not to give up. God may delay answering, but his delays always have good reasons. As we persist in prayer, we grow I character, faith and hope.

Widows and orphans were among the most vulnerable of all God’s people, and both Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles insisted that these needy people be properly cared for (Exodus 22:22-24; Isaiah 1:17; 1 Timothy 5:3; James 1:27).

If unjust judges respond to constant pressure, how much more will a great and loving God respond to us. If we know he loves us, we can believe he will hear or cries for help.

Do you say the prayer or make the prayer?

How much faith do you have in God?

Are you kind towards people who need your help?

PRAYER:

Loving Father in heaven, thank you for your kindness, mercy and compassion. You are our good father, the just judge. Thank you for providing everything that we need. Often, we give up our hope and trust in you, especially when things do not happen according to our plan. We ask your mercy Lord, so that we may learn to submit all our hope in you alone. Amen

#homily #prayer #catholic

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albertfinch · 1 year ago

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LIBERATED OUT OF EXCUSES INTO COURAGE

Luke 18: 1-8 - Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'

And he would not for a while, but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'"

Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily, nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

Jesus challenges our modern traditions. He asks, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" His question is a warning to Christians who would limit the power of God at the end of the age. Jesus is calling us to resist the downward pull of our traditions; He is asking us individually, "Will I find faith in you?

Jesus associates faith with "day and night" prayer (Luke 18:7). He is not asking, "Will I find correct doctrines in you?" The Lord's question does not so much concern itself with our head as with our heart. What we believe is important, but how we believe is vital in securing the help of God.

Indeed, procuring the SUPERNATURAL HELP OF GOD is exactly the point of Jesus' parable in Luke 18. His intent was to show that "at all times" we "ought to pray and not to lose heart" (verse 1). To illustrate the quality of faith He seeks, He followed His admonition with a parable about a certain widow who petitioned a hardened judge for "legal protection" (verse 3). Although the judge was initially unwilling, yet by her "continually coming" (verse 5) she gained what was legally hers.

Jesus concluded by asking if an unrighteous judge will respond to a widow's persistence, "will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?" Jesus said, "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly" (verses 7-8).

DESPERATION PRODUCES CHANGE

It is significant that Jesus compared His elect to a widow harassed by an enemy. The image is actually liberating, for we tend to conceptualize the heroes of the faith as David or Joshua types – individuals whose successes obscure their humble beginnings. But each of God's servants has, like the widow, a former life that is brimming with excuses and occasions to waver.

Look at the widow: She has legitimate reasons to quit, but instead, she prevails. Indeed, she refuses to exempt herself from her high potential simply because of her low estate. She makes no apologies for her lack of finances, knowledge, or charm. Giving herself no reason to fail, she unashamedly plants her case before the judge where she pleads for and receives what is hers: legal protection from her opponent.

DESPERATION - GOD'S HAMMER

How did a common widow gain such strength of character? We can imagine that there must have been a time when, under the relentless pressure of her adversary, she became desperate, and desperation worked to her advantage. DESPERATION is God's hammer: it demolishes the stronghold of fear and shatters the chains of our excuses. When our desperation exceeds our fears, progress begins.

We can stay the course because of the enabling of the strength of the Lord in us! We are strengthened deep within so that we stand firm for the promises of the Lord for our life. We lean into the Lord with deep courage to believe for the impossible to be possible.

Hebrews 10:23 - "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is FAITHFUL;"

Once we have endured the fire and have received the passion, we must persevere. Jesus didn't quit at Gethsemane. He went all the way to crucifixion! Once we've sustained the fiery furnace we can't give up. We must set our heart like flint, ready to go all the way with God in what He is CALLING us to do (God's PURPOSE for our life).

Affirmations:

GOD HAS A GREAT DEAL FOR ME TO POSSESS. MY TAKING POSSESSION WILL CONFRONT MY GREAT FAITH AND PERSEVERANCE.

GOD IS CONTINUALLY PUTTING NEW CHALLENGES BEFORE ME TO DEVELOP MY FAITH AND PERSEVERANCE AT A DEEPER LEVEL.

I REFUSE TO BURY THE INVESTMENT GOD HAS MADE IN ME.

I PRESS TOWARDS THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

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catholic-saint-tournament · 1 year ago

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Unsure if I can vote more than once, but I have more St Charles de Fouclaud propaganda!!

He really was such an interesting guy, and to me, he kind of falls into modern mystic territory? Like the prayer of surrender (Father,I abandon myself into your hands; Do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I thank you:I am ready for all, I accept all) Hooo, mama! I miss how often saints used to talk about fully surrendering yourself to God!

I think his philosophy of preaching through example instead of through sermon is especially relevant in our current day, when a lot of Christians worry more about making sure they say they're Christian than about extending God's love to the marginalized. He also treated the cultures around him with so much respect and dignity, and he was quite the ethnographer! He cared so much about loving people, regardless of if they were interested in converting or not, which was a very Christ-like thing to do. He also shows that doing your job well and with dignity is another way to glorify the Lord.

He took a vow of poverty, not just to prove his devotion, but to truly live among the less fortunate. He inspired the Little Brothers and worked for the Poor Clares. His dearest desire was to be a brother to all, even taking the name "Brother Charles of Jesus." He once said that he hoped to die alone, like Christ. His friendship with the Muslim community around him was so deep and genuine that they were the ones who buried his body.

His second miracle was the protection and healing of a carpenter who had fallen and gotten impaled while fixing up a church-- which feels so perfect for a man who dedicated himself to common, working class, easily abandoned individuals.

I've adopted him as an unofficial patron, doesn't matter how new he is!! His writings are endlessly fascinating and inspiring, and he played a role in the reinvigoration of my faith, showing me that you really can reject the world and give your life to Christ, even when that means rejecting things the church/christians are doing. We've got to drum up a patronage for him-- maybe ecuminical friendship or reconversion or poetry translators or people whose organs should have exploded, idk!!!!

He IS the moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OF COURSE YOU CAN VOTE MORE THAN ONCE

I mean, the persistent widow is a parable for a reason, right?? This isn't a major election. This is all of us banding together and bothering each other until we pick a saint. Get your votes in!!

EVERYTHING IS AMAZING ABOUT THIS MAN. EVERYONE GO VOTE FOR ST CHARLES NOW AND SPAM MY INBOX IF YOU MUST

#st charles de foucauld #catholic saint tournament

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mybeautifulchristianjourney · 6 months ago

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The Persistent Widow

1 He told them also a parable that they should pray at all times and they should not grow weary: 2 “There was in one city a certain judge who did not worship God and did not honor the children of men.” 3 “There was a certain widow in that city, and she was coming to him and saying, 'Vindicate me of my legal adversary.' “ 4 “And he would not for long time, but after this, he said to himself, 'Although I do not worship God neither honor people' 5 'Nevertheless, because this widow wearies me, I shall avenge her, lest she be constantly coming and annoying me.' “ 6 And our Lord said, “Hear what the evil judge said.” 7 “Shall not God all the more perform vindication for his Elect, who cry to him by day and by night, and he delays his Spirit concerning them?” 8 “I say to you that he shall perform their vindication quickly. However, The Son of Man shall come, and will he then find faith on the earth?” — Luke 18:1-8 | Peshitta Holy Bible (PESH) The Peshitta Holy Bible Translated by Glenn David Bauscher Copyright © 2018 Lulu Publishing; 3rd edition Copyright © 2019 Cross References: Exodus 22:23; Psalm 88:1; Proverbs 20:6; Isaiah 40:27; Isaiah 40:31; Isaiah 62:7; Matthew 5:25; Matthew 5:45; Luke 7:13; Luke 7:19; Luke 11:8; Luke 17:26; Luke 20:13; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Hebrews 12:9; James 2:4

#Jesus #parables #the persistent widow #justice #Luke 18:1-8 #Gospel of Luke #New Testament #PESH #Peshitta Holy Bible #Lulu Publishing

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jaguar726 · 12 days ago

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Grant me justice against my adversary

Daily Gospel Reading – Luke 18:1-8 The Parable of the Persistent Widow18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For…

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#Daily #Gospel #Luke 18:1-8 #Reading

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ongolecharles · 12 days ago

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DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS (DSR) 📚 Group, Sat Nov 16th, 2024 ... Saturday of The Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year B

Reading 1

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3 JN 5-8

Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and sisters,

especially for strangers;

they have testified to your love before the Church.

Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey.

For they have set out for the sake of the Name

and are accepting nothing from the pagans.

Therefore, we ought to support such persons,

so that we may be co-workers in the truth.

Responsorial Psalm

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PS 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Blessed the man who fears the LORD,

who greatly delights in his commands.

His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;

the upright generation shall be blessed.

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Wealth and riches shall be in his house;

his generosity shall endure forever.

Light shines through the darkness for the upright;

he is gracious and merciful and just.

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Well for the man who is gracious and lends,

who conducts his affairs with justice;

He shall never be moved;

the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

or:

R. Alleluia.

Alleluia

-----------

See 2 THES 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

God has called us through the Gospel,

to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

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LK 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable

about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.

He said, “There was a judge in a certain town

who neither feared God nor respected any human being.

And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,

‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’

For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,

‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,

because this widow keeps bothering me

I shall deliver a just decision for her

lest she finally come and strike me.’”

The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.

Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones

who call out to him day and night?

Will he be slow to answer them?

I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.

But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

***

FOCUS AND LITURGY OF THE WORD

The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.” Luke 18:6–8

It’s interesting that Jesus uses the example of a dishonest judge to illustrate the importance of praying to God, calling out to Him day and night for justice. As the parable goes, this judge cared little about a widow in his town who continually came to him asking for a just decision. He felt as though she was continually bothering him. Because she was so persistent, the judge thought to himself, “…because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.” Jesus’ conclusion from this parable is quoted above.

The simple lesson we ought to learn from this parable is that we must be persistent in prayer. God will always answer our prayers, seeing to it that “justice is done” speedily. But many people have prayed and prayed and prayed for some situation, prayed even for justice, and it appeared that God did not answer their prayer. Thus, some may question the promise of Jesus that persistent prayer will always be answered and justice always be rendered.

If this is your experience, it is essential that you remind yourself of two things. First, Jesus’ words are true. When we persevere in prayer and trust in God, He hears us and answers. This is our Lord’s unwavering promise. But secondly, the “justice” that God delivers may often be different than the justice we expect. It may be that we want someone to pay for a wrong they did to us, but after praying fervently, our expectation is not met by our Lord. For this reason, it is essential that we know that God answers every prayer we pray, but in accord with His perfect will and wisdom. Therefore, God’s view of justice at times may be very different than ours. At times, His justice is satisfied by His invitation to us to show mercy in abundance. True mercy always satisfies justice.

Take, for example, the case of someone speaking in a rude manner to you. If you offer that situation to our Lord, He will enter in and provide His grace for you to deal with it in accord with His will. Perhaps He will soften the other person’s heart so that they apologize, or perhaps, if they don’t apologize and their heart is not softened, then God’s answer to your prayer will be to give you the grace of humility so that you can love that person despite their unrepentance. Regardless of the way our Lord intervenes, the fact remains that He will intervene and enable you to fulfill His perfect will. If, however, your prayer is that the person be held accountable and condemned, then you are trying to tell God what to do, and He will not accede to your request. All of our prayer must ultimately be for the fulfillment of God’s perfect will in accord with His wisdom.

Reflect, today, upon how completely you trust in God. Do you know, with certainty, that He will answer every prayer that you fervently pray with faith in accord with His divine will? Believing this is freeing and enables you to live more fully in union with Him. If there is some issue with which you struggle right now, even some apparent injustice, then entrust it to our Lord, day and night without ceasing, and know that His grace will guide you as He answers you in accord with His will.

Let's pray ...

My all-wise Lord, Your will is perfect in all things, and You always bestow Your grace upon me when I pray without ceasing. Please give me a trusting Heart, dear Lord, so that I will never waver in my hope that You will always answer my prayers in accord with Your will. Jesus, I trust in You.

***

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saint Margaret of Scotland

(1045 – November 16, 1093)

Saint Margaret of Scotland’s Story

Margaret of Scotland was a truly liberated woman in the sense that she was free to be herself. For her, that meant freedom to love God and serve others.

Not Scottish by birth, Margaret was the daughter of Princess Agatha of Hungary and the Anglo-Saxon Prince Edward Atheling. She spent much of her youth in the court of her great-uncle, the English king, Edward the Confessor. Her family fled from William the Conqueror and was shipwrecked off the coast of Scotland. King Malcolm befriended them and was captivated by the beautiful, gracious Margaret. They were married at the castle of Dunfermline in 1070.

Malcolm was good-hearted, but rough and uncultured, as was his country. Because of Malcolm’s love for Margaret, she was able to soften his temper, polish his manners, and help him become a virtuous king. He left all domestic affairs to her, and often consulted her in state matters.

Margaret tried to improve her adopted country by promoting the arts and education. For religious reform she encouraged synods and was present for the discussions which tried to correct religious abuses common among priests and laypeople, such as simony, usury, and incestuous marriages. With her husband, she founded several churches.

Margaret was not only a queen, but a mother. She and Malcolm had six sons and two daughters. Margaret personally supervised their religious instruction and other studies.

Although she was very much caught up in the affairs of the household and country, she remained detached from the world. Her private life was austere. She had certain times for prayer and reading Scripture. She ate sparingly and slept little in order to have time for devotions. She and Malcolm kept two Lents, one before Easter and one before Christmas. During these times she always rose at midnight for Mass. On the way home she would wash the feet of six poor persons and give them alms. She was always surrounded by beggars in public and never refused them. It is recorded that she never sat down to eat without first feeding nine orphans and 24 adults.

In 1093, King William Rufus made a surprise attack on Alnwick castle. King Malcolm and his oldest son, Edward, were killed. Margaret, already on her deathbed, died four days after her husband.

Reflection

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There are two ways to be charitable: the “clean way” and the “messy way.” The “clean way” is to give money or clothing to organizations that serve the poor. The “messy way” is dirtying your own hands in personal service to the poor. Margaret’s outstanding virtue was her love of the poor. Although very generous with material gifts, Margaret also visited the sick and nursed them with her own hands. She and her husband served orphans and the poor on their knees during Advent and Lent. Like Christ, she was charitable the “messy way.”

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roman-catholic-mass-readings · 15 days ago

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16th November >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Margaret of Scotland

Saint Gertrude, Virgin

Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II))

First Reading 3 John 5-8 It is our duty to welcome missionaries and contribute our share to their work.

My friend, you have done faithful work in looking after these brothers, even though they were complete strangers to you. They are a proof to the whole Church of your charity and it would be a very good thing if you could help them on their journey in a way that God would approve. It was entirely for the sake of the name that they set out, without depending on the pagans for anything; it is our duty to welcome men of this sort and contribute our share to their work for the truth.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 111(112):1-6

R/ Happy the man who takes delight in the commands of the Lord.

Happy the man who fears the Lord, who takes delight in all his commands. His sons will be powerful on earth; the children of the upright are blessed.

R/ Happy the man who takes delight in the commands of the Lord.

Riches and wealth are in his house; his justice stands firm for ever. He is a light in the darkness for the upright: he is generous, merciful and just.

R/ Happy the man who takes delight in the commands of the Lord.

The good man takes pity and lends, he conducts his affairs with honour. The just man will never waver: he will be remembered for ever.

R/ Happy the man who takes delight in the commands of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation James 1:21

Alleluia, alleluia! Accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you and can save your souls. Alleluia!

Or: cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:14

Alleluia, alleluia! Through the Good News God called us to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!

Gospel Luke 18:1-8 The parable of the unjust judge.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Saint Margaret of Scotland

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

Either:

First Reading Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31 A perfect wife - who can find her?

A perfect wife – who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls. Her husband’s heart has confidence in her, from her he will derive no little profit. Advantage and not hurt she brings him all the days of her life. She is always busy with wool and with flax, she does her work with eager hands. She sets her hands to the distaff, her fingers grasp the spindle. She holds out her hand to the poor, she opens her arms to the needy. Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty; the woman who is wise is the one to praise. Give her a share in what her hands have worked for, and let her works tell her praises at the city gates.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Or:

First Reading 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13 The supremacy of charity.

Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is better than any of them. If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever. Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end. But if there are gifts of prophecy, the time will come when they must fail; or the gift of languages, it will not continue for ever; and knowledge – for this, too, the time will come when it must fail. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophesying is imperfect; but once perfection comes, all imperfect things will disappear. When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, and think like a child, and argue like a child, but now I am a man, all childish ways are put behind me. Now we are seeing a dim reflection in a mirror; but then we shall be seeing face to face. The knowledge that I have now is imperfect; but then I shall know as fully as I am known. In short, there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 127(128):1-5

R/ O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways! By the labour of your hands you shall eat. You will be happy and prosper.

R/ O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house; your children like shoots of the olive, around your table.

R/ O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life!

R/ O blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation John 13:34

Alleluia, alleluia! I give you a new commandment: love one another just as I have loved you, says the Lord. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 25:31-46 I was naked and you clothed me; sick, and you visited me.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. ‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.” ‘Next he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.” ‘And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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Saint Gertrude, Virgin

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Saturday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First Reading Ephesians 3:14-19 May Christ live in your hearts through faith.

I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural, takes its name: Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 22(23):1-3a,4-6