Daily Readings - Sat Nov 17 2018
3 John
5Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you.6They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God.7It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.8We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.
Luke
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men,5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'"6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Sermon
In today's readings, we are reminded of the power of faithfulness and persistence. The first reading from 3 John encourages us to act faithfully by supporting one another, especially those who serve in God's name. This letter emphasizes the importance of hospitality and mutual aid within the early Christian community, highlighting how our actions reflect our commitment to God. The Gospel from Luke presents the parable of the persistent widow, teaching us about the necessity of continuous prayer and trust in God's justice.
The context of these readings is rooted in the early Christian experience. John's letter addresses a community that relied on each other for support, especially missionaries who traveled to spread the Gospel. Luke's parable, set in a time when Jesus was preparing his disciples for his departure, underscores the importance of perseverance in prayer, even when faced with challenges or delays. Both readings stress the importance of living out our faith through consistent actions and unwavering trust in God.
These readings are closely connected, as they both emphasize faithfulness and persistence. In 3 John, faithfulness is demonstrated through tangible acts of love and support for others. In Luke's parable, persistence in prayer mirrors the widow's relentless pursuit of justice. Together, they call us to live out our faith in both action and prayer, trusting that God hears us and will act in His time.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to reflect on how we embody faithfulness and persistence. Do we support one another with the same generosity and hospitality that John commends? Do we pray with the same relentless trust as the widow, even when our prayers seem unanswered? Let us strive to live with such faithfulness, knowing that our actions and prayers are not in vain.
As we reflect on these readings, let us remember that our faith is not passive but active. It calls us to care for others and to pray without ceasing, trusting that God will bring justice and vindication. May we, like the widow, persist in prayer and, like the early Christians, support one another in love and faith. In doing so, we live out the truth of the Gospel and bear witness to God's presence in our world.