Daily Readings - Sat Nov 18 2017
Luke
1And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.2He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.3And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.'4For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man,5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'"6And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says.7And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?8I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he 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.