November 14, 2020 Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary time

2020년 11월 14일 연중 제32주간 토요일 

오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp 

제1독서
요한 3서. 5-8
사랑하는 가이오스,
5 그대는 형제들을 위하여, 특히 낯선 이들을 위하여
무슨 일을 하든 다 성실히 하고 있습니다.
6 그들이 교회 모임에서 그대의 사랑에 관하여 증언하였습니다.
그들이 하느님께 맞갖도록 그대의 도움을 받아
여행을 계속할 수 있게 해 주었으면 좋겠습니다.
7 그들은 그리스도를 위하여 길을 나선 사람들로,
이교인들에게서는 아무것도 받지 않습니다.
8 그러므로 우리가 그러한 이들을 돌보아 주어야 합니다.
그렇게 하여 우리는 진리의 협력자가 되는 것입니다.

복음
루카. 18,1-8
그때에 1 예수님께서는 낙심하지 말고 끊임없이 기도해야 한다는 뜻으로
제자들에게 비유를 말씀하셨다.
2 “어떤 고을에 하느님도 두려워하지 않고
사람도 대수롭지 않게 여기는 한 재판관이 있었다.
3 또 그 고을에는 과부가 한 사람 있었는데 그는 줄곧 그 재판관에게 가서,
‘저와 저의 적대자 사이에 올바른 판결을 내려 주십시오.’ 하고 졸랐다.
4 재판관은 한동안 들어주려고 하지 않다가 마침내 속으로 말하였다.
‘나는 하느님도 두려워하지 않고 사람도 대수롭지 않게 여기지만,
5 저 과부가 나를 이토록 귀찮게 하니
그에게는 올바른 판결을 내려 주어야겠다.
그렇게 하지 않으면 끝까지 찾아와서 나를 괴롭힐 것이다.’”
6 주님께서 다시 이르셨다.
“이 불의한 재판관이 하는 말을 새겨들어라.
7 하느님께서 당신께 선택된 이들이 밤낮으로 부르짖는데
그들에게 올바른 판결을 내려 주지 않으신 채, 그들을 두고 미적거리시겠느냐?
8 내가 너희에게 말한다.
하느님께서는 그들에게 지체 없이 올바른 판결을 내려 주실 것이다.
그러나 사람의 아들이 올 때에
이 세상에서 믿음을 찾아볼 수 있겠느냐?”

November 14, 2020

Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary time

Daily Readings — Audio

Daily Reflections — Video

http://www.usccb.org/bible/ 

Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass 

Reading 1

3 Jn 5-8

Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and sisters,
especially for strangers;
they have testified to your love before the Church.
Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey.
For they have set out for the sake of the Name
and are accepting nothing from the pagans.
Therefore, we ought to support such persons,
so that we may be co-workers in the truth.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Gospel

Lk 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. 
He said, “There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being. 
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, 
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.’” 
The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. 
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night? 
Will he be slow to answer them? 
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. 
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

 

 

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html

 

I’ve spent the majority of my life trying to learn patience.  So, how ironic that the parable of the persistent widow be my assignment.

I can’t think of a more appropriate lesson for us to hear today.  Think about this.  In the time of Jesus, a widow was essentially powerless.  This widow went directly to the judge for a decision…and she didn’t stop until she received a verdict.  I can only imagine her frustration, but she persisted.  I imagine this could have come with some risk.

I, like many others, have a severe case of COVID fatigue. I’m very weary of the constant chaos, bickering and unrest all over our world.  Too many people live in a constant state of fear worry and anxiety. 

• Where will he rest his weary head after a long day searching for work?
• How will she feed her children? 
• What will I do if I lost my job because I had to be with my sick, aging, widowed parent or my sick child? 
• Winter is coming, how will I keep my family warm?
• Where will we live when there is no more money for rent?

The list can go on and on.

Is this any way to live?  I say no.  What can we do about it?  We must be patient, help each other and pray fervently.  When it doesn’t seem like our prayers are being answered, keep praying.  When hope is running out, keep praying.  When you don’t know what else to do, …keep praying.  Pray fervently and remember that Jesus walks beside us always.  His presence is persistent. Let us be persistent in our prayer.

“Don’t worry to the point of losing your inner peace.  Pray with perseverance, with faith, with calmness and serenity.”  --St. Padre Pio

 

 http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp

HEART-TO-HEART TALK

Jesus “told them a parable on the necessity of praying always and not losing heart.” —Luke 18:1

Have you lost heart in any prayer? What if you’ve prayed for a long time to be healed? Do you still truly expect to be healed or have you lost heart? Do you expect the end to abortion? Do you still believe or have you lost heart? (see Ps 13:2)

Sometimes the longer we pray, the less we believe. The Lord assures us that, if a widow can get her rights from an unwilling judge (Lk 18:5), how much more will our prayers be answered by our heavenly Father Who gave His Son for us, adopted us, and loves us unconditionally, much more than we love ourselves? “Is it possible that He Who did not spare His own Son but handed Him over for the sake of us all will not grant us all things besides?” (Rm 8:32)

Because of the Lord’s proven, crucified love, we can be positive that all prayer is answered either as we request or with something better. “Will not God then do justice to His chosen who call out to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them, do you suppose? I tell you, He will give them swift justice” (Lk 18:7-8). The Lord wants us to take heart and not lose heart, for His heart is open, pierced, broken, bleeding, and on fire for love of us.

Prayer:  Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me. I love You.

Promise:  “Therefore, we owe it to such men to support them and thus to have our share in the work of truth.” —3 Jn 8

Praise:  Paul always tends to the people who come his way. He refers to them as “those who fall into my net.”

 

 http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/readings/

 

What can a shameless and unjust judge pitted against a crusty and pestering woman teach us about justice and vindication in the kingdom of God? Jesus tells a story that is all too true - a defenseless widow is taken advantaged of and refused her rights. Through sheer persistence she wears down an unscrupulous judge until he gives her justice. Persistence pays off, and that's especially true for those who trust in God. Jesus illustrates how God as our Judge and Vindicator is much quicker to come to our defense and to bring us his justice, blessing, and help when we need it. But we can easily lose heart and forget to ask our heavenly Father for his grace and help.

Faith-filled persistence reaps the fruit of justice and grace
Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8) to give his disciples fresh hope and confidence in God's unfailing care and favor towards us (grace). In this present life we can expect trials and adversity, but we are not without hope in God. The Day of the Last Judgment will reveal that God's justice triumphs over all the injustices perpetrated by a fallen world of sinful people and that God's love is stronger than death (Song of Songs 8:6). Those who put their faith in God and entrust their lives to him can look forward with hope and confident assurance. They will receive their reward - if not fully in this present life then surely and completely in the age to come in God's kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17).

Jesus ends his parable with a probing question for us. Will you and I have faith - the kind of faith that doesn't give up or lose hope in God - but perseveres to the end of our lives - and to the end of this present age when the Lord Jesus will return in glory as Ruler and Judge of All? Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to us. We could not believe, trust, and persevere with hope if God did not first draw us to himself and reveal to us his merciful love and care. If we want to grow and persevere in faith until the end of our days, then we must nourish our faith with the word of God and ask the Lord to increase it (Luke 17:5). When trials and setbacks disappoint you, where do you place your hope and confidence? Do you pray with expectant faith and confident hope in God's merciful care and provision for you?

Lord Jesus, increase my faith and make it strong that I may never doubt your word and promise to be with me always. In every situation I face - whether trials, setbacks, or loss - may I always find strength in your unfailing love and find joy and contentment in having you alone as the treasure of my heart.

Psalm 105:2-3,36-37,42-43

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works!
3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
36 He smote all the first-born in their land, the first issue of all their strength.
37 Then he led forth Israel with silver and gold, and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.
42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
43 So he led forth his people with joy, his chosen ones with singing.

Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Persistent prayer transforms iniquity and wickedness into mercy, by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)

"How was that unjust judge immoral and wicked? How was the upright judge gracious and just? The first in his iniquity was not willing to vindicate the widow, and in his wickedness, he was not willing to put her mind at rest. The justice of God knows how to vindicate, and his grace discerns how to give life. The iniquity of this wicked judge was contrary to the justice of God, and the wickedness of this rebel was in opposition to the grace of the gentle One. His wickedness therefore was stubbornness, for it dared to go against the fear of God. His boldness was stubborn, for it refused the lowly person."
"These two were stubborn, but persistent prayer was even more stubborn. The persistence of the widow humiliated both the iniquity that was rebelling against God and the boldness that was behaving arrogantly towards human beings. She subjected them to her will, so that they might provide her with a vindication over her adversary. Persistence transformed these two bitter branches, and they bore sweet fruit that was against their nature. The iniquity of the judge brought about a righteous judgment and a just retribution for the falsely accused woman. His wickedness gave peace to the afflicted one, although iniquity does not know how to judge, and wickedness does not know how to give refreshment. Persistence forced these two evil and bitter branches to give good fruit against their nature. If we persist in prayer, we should be even more able to prevail on the grace and justice of God to give us fruit that agrees with their nature. Let justice vindicate us, and let grace refresh us. Accordingly, the fruit of justice is the just reward of the oppressed, while the giving of refreshment to the afflicted is the fruit of grace." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 16.16.6)

   

More Homilies

November 17, 2018