32nd Week in Ordinary Time
18th November 2023 (Saturday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9
While gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone, your all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal throne, into the midst of the land that was doomed, a stern warrior carrying the sharp sword of your authentic command, and stood and filled all things with death and touched heaven while standing on the earth. For the whole creation in its nature was fashioned anew, complying with your commands, that your children might be kept unharmed. The cloud was seen overshadowing the camp, and dry land emerging where water had stood before, an unhindered way out of the Red Sea, and a grassy plain out of the raging waves, where those protected by your hand passed through as one nation, after gazing on marvellous wonders. For they ranged like horses and leaped like lambs, praising you, O Lord, who delivered them.
Psalm 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43 (R. 5a)
R/. Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. God has called us through the gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Luke 18:1-8
At that time: Jesus told his disciples a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary. For a while he refused, but afterwards he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming." And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Daily Gospel Reflection
The Reflection by Fr. Thumma Mariadas Reddy MSFS{alertWarning}
Highlight: Faith is not a speed gain!
Guidlines: Patience and perseverance are the keys to success and the hallmarks of any successful person. Wavering and impatience will never do any good in any pursuit{alertSuccess}
1. We are living in a fast-track world. It seeks instant results and quick gains. Speed has become one main determinant of the mentality of today’s world. That is why, it is said that those who do not run the race fast, will not stand in the race.
2. Delay often causes annoyance and impatience. The same thing happens in our prayer life as well. Many pray and do many spiritual activities. But they expect immediate answers and favours from God.
3. There is nothing wrong with making supplications to God. There is also nothing wrong with expecting God to receive our requests and grant favours. But the real problem is what happens when we are not granted what we ask for. What happens when things do not happen when we expect them to happen?
4. What happens when I ask for good health, a good job, a good education, a good match, good business, good prospects, success, good understanding, and good changes in others in families or communities, but they do not happen?
5. What happens when I continue to struggle with my sickness, with my failures, or with negative pressures? How long to wait? Why does God not respond and grant favours as and when I request him so trustingly?
6. In such times, the usual and immediate tendency is to be discouraged, to be shaken in our faith, and to give up our praying. It is then that the poor widow in the gospel stands before us as a great ignition to persevere till the end.
7. She approaches an obstinate and unjust judge for justice. He is in no mood to render justice to her. He continued to refuse her. But as she persisted, he had to yield to her request. At least to get rid of her botheration, he renders her justice. Perseverance pays!
Practice: Perseverance in prayer does not mean that we go on pestering God and make him weary. It means that we should not expect quick favours from God. Rather we must learn to wait!{alertSuccess}