Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 16, 2019

First Reading: Wisdom 18.14-16; 19.6-9

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

Chapter 19

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

Psalm 105

Psalms

Chapter 105

¹Alleluia. Confess to the Lord, and invoke his name. Announce his works among the nations²Sing to him, and sing psalms to him. Describe all his wonders³Be praised in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice⁴Seek the Lord, and be confirmed. Seek his face always⁵Remember his miracles, which he has done, his portents and the judgments of his mouth⁶you offspring of Abraham his servant, you sons of Jacob his elect⁷He is the Lord our God. His judgments are throughout the entire earth⁸He has remembered his covenant for all ages: the word that he entrusted to a thousand generations⁹which he assigned to Abraham, and his oath to Isaac¹⁰And he stationed the same for Jacob with a precept, and for Israel with an eternal testament¹¹saying: To you, I will give the land of Canaan, the allotment of your inheritance¹²Though they may have been but a small number, very few and foreigners there¹³and though they passed from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people¹⁴he allowed no man to harm them, and he reproved kings on their behalf¹⁵Do not be willing to touch my Christ, and do not be willing to malign my prophets¹⁶And he called a famine upon the land, and he crushed every foundation of the bread¹⁷He sent a man before them: Joseph, who had been sold as a slave¹⁸They humbled his feet in shackles; the iron pierced his soul¹⁹until his word arrived. The eloquence of the Lord inflamed him²⁰The king sent and released him; he was the ruler of the people, and he dismissed him²¹He established him as master of his house and ruler of all his possessions²²so that he might instruct his princes as himself, and teach his elders prudence²³And Israel entered into Egypt, and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham²⁴And he helped his people greatly, and he strengthened them over their enemies²⁵He turned their heart to hate his people, and to deal deceitfully with his servants²⁶He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, the one whom he chose²⁷He placed with them signs of his word, and portents in the land of Ham²⁸He sent darkness and made it conceal, and he did not afflict them with his speech²⁹He turned their waters into blood, and he slaughtered their fish³⁰Their land brought forth frogs, even in the inner chambers of their kings³¹He spoke, and there came forth common flies and gnats, in every region³²He gave them a shower of hail and a burning fire, in the same land³³And he struck their vineyards and their fig trees, and he crushed the trees of their region³⁴He spoke, and the locust came forth, and the caterpillar, of which there was no number³⁵And it devoured all the grass in their land, and it consumed all the fruit of their land³⁶And he struck all the first-born in their land, the first-fruits of all their labor³⁷And he led them out with silver and gold, and there was not an infirm one among their tribes³⁸Egypt was joyful at their departure, for the fear of them lay heavy upon them³⁹He spread a cloud for their protection, and a fire, to give them light through the night⁴⁰They petitioned, and the quail came; and he satisfied them with the bread of heaven⁴¹He ruptured the rock and the waters flowed: rivers gushed in the dry land⁴²For he had called to mind his holy word, which he kept near to his servant Abraham⁴³And he led forth his people in exultation, and his elect in rejoicing⁴⁴And he gave them the regions of the Gentiles, and they possessed the labors of the peoples⁴⁵so that they might observe his justifications, and inquire about his law

Gospel: Luke 18.1-8

Luke

Chapter 18

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 readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of trust, perseverance, and God’s faithfulness. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear a poetic description of God’s power and intervention in history. The passage recounts how God’s word, like a warrior, descended to rescue His people, transforming creation itself to lead them to safety. The Red Sea parts, and the deep becomes a level field, symbolizing God’s ability to make a way where there seems to be none. This reading reminds us of the Exodus story, a central narrative of salvation in the Bible, and it underscores God’s commitment to His people, even in the face of overwhelming odds. The Gospel from Luke presents a very different scene: a parable about a persistent widow and an unjust judge. Jesus tells this story to emphasize the importance of prayer and perseverance. The judge, who neither fears God nor respects people, is moved to act only because the widow’s relentless pleas wear him down. Jesus contrasts this with God, who is just and loving, promising that He will quickly vindicate those who cry out to Him. Yet, Jesus ends with a haunting question: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” This challenges us to examine our own trust in God’s timing and His plan for our lives. These readings are connected by the thread of trust and perseverance. The first reading shows us God’s faithfulness in delivering His people, while the Gospel urges us to remain steadfast in prayer, trusting that God will act. Together, they remind us that faith is not about immediate results but about enduring confidence in God’s love and justice. In our daily lives, we often face challenges that seem insurmountable, but these readings encourage us to pray without ceasing, knowing that God hears us and will act in His time. Let us take heart in the knowledge that our persistence in prayer is not in vain, for God is always near to those who call upon Him. May we, like the widow, persevere in faith, trusting that the Lord will bring justice and peace to our lives and to the world.