First reading 3 John 5-8
It is our duty to welcome missionaries and contribute our share to their work
My friend, you have done faithful work in looking after these brothers, even though they were complete strangers to you. They are a proof to the whole Church of your charity and it would be a very good thing if you could help them on their journey in a way that God would approve. It was entirely for the sake of the name that they set out, without depending on the pagans for anything; it is our duty to welcome men of this sort and contribute our share to their work for the truth.
Responsorial Psalm 111(112):1-6
Happy the man who takes delight in the commands of the Lord.
Happy the man who fears the Lord,
who takes delight in all his commands.
His sons will be powerful on earth;
the children of the upright are blessed.
Riches and wealth are in his house;
his justice stands firm for ever.
He is a light in the darkness for the upright:
he is generous, merciful and just.
The good man takes pity and lends,
he conducts his affairs with honour.
The just man will never waver:
he will be remembered for ever.
Gospel Luke 18:1-8
The parable of the unjust judge
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.”’
And the Lord said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’
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Pray continually with a lot of trust
Though the widow in today’s parable was poor and powerless, she had the power of persistence and determination that kept her going to the corrupted judge until He listened and did as she requested.
This widow teaches us a lesson to pray consistently and never lose heart. Jesus wants us to keep on praying despite all the obstacles we
face. God is not like the judge in the parable. Instead, the God to whom we pray is a God who loves us and cares for us. He will answer our
prayers, maybe not in the way we want or expect, but He will always respond in a way that benefits us.
face. God is not like the judge in the parable. Instead, the God to whom we pray is a God who loves us and cares for us. He will answer our
prayers, maybe not in the way we want or expect, but He will always respond in a way that benefits us.
Reflective question:
Do I give up easily on God, especially when He is not answering my prayer?
Do I give up easily on God, especially when He is not answering my prayer?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Sandra Seow FMVD.
