Daily Readings - Sat Nov 18 2017
First Reading - Wisdom 18.14-16; 19.6-9
Wisdom
14For, when a quiet silence surrounded all things, and when the course of the night was passing the middle of its journey15your almighty word from heaven leapt down from your royal throne, as a fierce warrior in the midst of the land of extermination16as a sharp sword carrying your unfeigned authority, and standing, filled all things with death, and, standing on the earth, reached all the way up to touch heaven
6For every creature according to its kind was fashioned again as from the beginning, diligently serving your teachings, so that your children would be preserved unharmed7For a cloud overshadowed their camp, and where water was before, dry land appeared, and in the Red Sea, a way without hindrance, and out of the great deep, a level field sprung up8through which the whole nation passed, protected by your hand, seeing your miracles and wonders9For they consumed food like horses, and they leapt about like lambs, praising you, O Lord, who had freed them
Gospel - Luke 18.1-8
Luke
1Now he also told them a parable, that we should continually pray and not cease2saying: "There was a certain judge in a certain city, who did not fear God and did not respect man3But there was a certain widow in that city, and she went to him, saying, ‘Vindicate me from my adversary.4And he refused to do so for a long time. But afterwards, he said within himself: ‘Even though I do not fear God, nor respect man5yet because this widow is pestering me, I will vindicate her, lest by returning, she may, in the end, wear me out.’ 6Then the Lord said: "Listen to what the unjust judge said7So then, will not God grant the vindication of his elect, who cry out to him day and night? Or will he continue to endure them8I tell you that he will quickly bring vindication to them. Yet truly, when the Son of man returns, do you think that he will find faith on earth?
Sermon
The first reading from the Book of Wisdom paints a vivid picture of God’s power and providence in the history of His people. It describes how God’s Word, like a fierce warrior, descended upon the earth to deliver His people from oppression. The passage recalls the miracles of the Exodus, where the Red Sea parted and the people walked through safely, guided by God’s hand. This reading reminds us of God’s active involvement in history and His faithfulness to those who trust in Him. The context is one of trust and deliverance, emphasizing that God’s ways are beyond human understanding but always oriented toward the salvation of His people.
The Gospel from Luke presents Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow, who relentlessly petitions an unjust judge for vindication. The judge, moved not by justice but by the widow’s persistence, finally grants her request. Jesus uses this story to teach about the importance of continuous prayer and trust in God’s justice. While the judge is corrupt and indifferent, God is just and loving, and He will not delay in responding to the cries of His elect. The parable challenges us to persevere in prayer, even when our petitions seem unanswered, trusting that God’s timing and wisdom are perfect.
Both readings call us to trust in God’s providence and to persevere in prayer. The Book of Wisdom reminds us of God’s historical interventions, while the Gospel encourages us to seek Him with persistence. In our daily lives, we often face challenges that seem insurmountable, and we may feel like giving up. But these readings invite us to lean on God’s faithfulness and to pray without ceasing. Let us approach life’s trials with the same persistence as the widow, trusting that God will act in His time. May we, like the Israelites of old, walk in faith, knowing that God’s hand guides us even when the path ahead seems uncertain.