Daily Readings - Sat Nov 16 2024

⁵Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;⁶Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:⁷Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.⁸We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

Luke

Chapter 18

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 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.