Daily Catholic Mass Readings for November 16, 2024
First Reading: 3 John 1.5-8
5Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are,6who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God.7For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.8Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
Psalm 112
1Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!2His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.3Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.4Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.5It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.6For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever.7He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.8His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.9He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.10The wicked man sees it and is angry; he gnashes his teeth and melts away; the desire of the wicked will perish!
Gospel: Luke 18.1-8
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
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the importance of faithfulness and persistence in our relationship with God and in our service to others. The first reading from 3 John emphasizes the need to act faithfully in our dealings with others, particularly in supporting those who are serving the Lord. The author commends the community for their charity and encourages them to continue welcoming and assisting missionaries, even though they may face challenges and sacrifices. This passage highlights the importance of living out our faith through concrete actions of love and hospitality.
The Gospel from Luke presents us with the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. This parable teaches us about the necessity of persistent prayer. The widow, despite being ignored and rejected multiple times, refuses to give up and eventually wears down the judge, who grants her justice simply to be rid of her. Jesus uses this story to reassure us that God, unlike the unjust judge, is loving and just. He will hear the cries of His elect and bring about justice quickly. However, Jesus also poses a challenging question: will He find faith on earth when He returns? This question invites us to reflect on the state of our own faith and our commitment to prayer.
These readings are connected by the theme of perseverance. The first reading encourages us to persevere in acts of charity and faithfulness, while the Gospel urges us to persevere in prayer, trusting that God will hear us. In our daily lives, we often face challenges and setbacks that can lead to discouragement. These readings remind us to remain steadfast, whether in serving others or in our prayer life. Let us take heart in knowing that our efforts, though they may seem small or insignificant, are seen by God and will bear fruit in His time. May we cultivate a deeper trust in God’s providence and remain persistent in living out our faith with love and hope.