Daily Readings - Sat Nov 13 2021
Luke
1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful imagery of God’s intervention and the call to persistent prayer. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom vividly describes God’s deliverance of His people, recounting the parting of the Red Sea and the transformation of the desert into a safe passage. This passage reflects on the Exodus, a pivotal moment in Israel’s history, where God’s power and mercy were manifest. It reminds us that God’s Word is both creative and redemptive, capable of transforming chaos into order and danger into safety. The second reading, from Luke’s Gospel, presents Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. This story emphasizes the importance of relentless prayer, teaching us that even an unwilling judge can be moved by persistence, and thus, how much more will our loving God respond to our cries.
These readings are connected by the theme of trust in God’s justice and deliverance. The Book of Wisdom highlights God’s past actions on behalf of His people, while the Gospel challenges us to trust in His present and future responses to our prayers. Both readings encourage us to have faith in God’s timing and His desire to bring about justice and peace in our lives. The widow’s persistence in the face of the judge’s reluctance mirrors our own experiences of waiting for God’s answers to our prayers. Yet, the readings assure us that God, unlike the judge, is always just and loving, and He will vindicate His people in His own time.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on our relationship with prayer and our trust in God’s providence. Do we approach prayer with the persistence of the widow, confident that God hears us? Or do we lose heart when our prayers seem unanswered? The readings remind us that prayer is not about wearing God down but about deepening our relationship with Him. Like the Israelites who witnessed God’s miracles in the wilderness, we are called to trust in His presence and provision, even when the path ahead seems uncertain. Let us pray with perseverance, knowing that God’s justice and love will ultimately prevail.