2021년 11월 13일 연중 제32주간 토요일
오늘의 복음 : http://info.catholic.or.kr/missa/default.asp
제1독서
<홍해에 마른땅이 나타나자 그들은 어린양들처럼 뛰었다.>
지혜서. 18,14-16; 19,6-9
14 부드러운 정적이 만물을 뒤덮고 시간은 흘러 한밤중이 되었을 때
15 당신의 전능한 말씀이 하늘의 왕좌에서
사나운 전사처럼 멸망의 땅 한가운데로 뛰어내렸습니다.
16 그는 당신의 단호한 명령을 날카로운 칼처럼 차고 우뚝 서서
만물을 죽음으로 가득 채웠습니다.
그가 땅 위에 서니 하늘까지 닿았습니다.
19,6 당신의 명령에 따라 온 피조물의 본성이 저마다 새롭게 형성되어
당신의 자녀들이 해를 입지 않고 보호를 받았던 것입니다.
7 진영 위는 구름이 덮어 주고
물이 있던 곳에서는 마른땅이 나타나는 것이 보였으며
홍해는 장애물이 없는 길로,
거친 파도는 풀 많은 벌판으로 바뀌었습니다.
8 당신 손길의 보호를 받는 이들은 그 놀라운 기적을 보고
온 민족이 그곳을 건너갔습니다.
9 그들은 풀을 뜯는 말들 같았습니다.
또 어린양들처럼 이리저리 뛰면서
주님, 자기들을 구해 내신 당신을 찬양하였습니다.
복음
<하느님께서는 당신께 선택된 이들이 부르짖으면 올바른 판결을 내려 주실 것이다.>
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 13, 2021
Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
Daily Mass : http://www.catholictv.com/shows/daily-mass
Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9
and the night in its swift course was half spent,
Your all-powerful word, from heaven's royal throne
bounded, a fierce warrior, into the doomed land,
bearing the sharp sword of your inexorable decree.
And as he alighted, he filled every place with death;
he still reached to heaven, while he stood upon the earth.
For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew,
serving its natural laws,
that your children might be preserved unharmed.
The cloud overshadowed their camp;
and out of what had before been water, dry land was seen emerging:
Out of the Red Sea an unimpeded road,
and a grassy plain out of the mighty flood.
Over this crossed the whole nation sheltered by your hand,
after they beheld stupendous wonders.
For they ranged about like horses,
and bounded about like lambs,
praising you, O Lord! their deliverer.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Then he struck every first born throughout their land,
the first fruits of all their manhood.
And he led them forth laden with silver and gold,
with not a weakling among their tribes.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
or:
R. Alleluia.
For he remembered his holy word
to his servant Abraham.
And he led forth his people with joy;
with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Lk 18:1-8
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
Our readings today offer us hope in remembering the “marvels the Lord has done” as we sing and repeat Psalm 105. With all of the hardship, death, destruction and evil, it is vital that we celebrate and remember, in gratitude, the promises that God has kept for our well-being and the promises to re-order creation in the future, too.
Our first reading from Wisdom beautifully, assertively and descriptively recounts “that creation was made over anew,” that God’s “children are preserved unharmed,” and that we are “sheltered” by the hand of God. What other times in our lives has God provided an unimpeded road when the path seemed blocked? I think of small but significant turns and unexpectedly wonderful surprises and changes that have brought joy and relief. These graces cannot be explained through coincidence but rather through faith — the trust that we have in God to actively work in our lives for good.
I’m not that old, but I’m old enough to get stuck in my ways and often be doubtful that things might take an unexpected turn for the better! How often do we negatively assume things will never change, never get better, never be righted? Speaking for myself, I can be guilty of assuming the worst in situations and judging or condemning people. The nightly news seems to remind us - globally, nationally and locally - that life is often disappointing, disheartening and unjust. We’ve seen this so clearly with the sin of racial injustice displayed prominently and constantly in front of our own eyes, in systems that we’ve created. As of a few days ago, we’ve surpassed at least 5 million deaths from a virus that we keep arguing about how to collectively tackle. Division, hate, selfishness, greed and apathy seem to reign in this world these days.
But, Jesus’ parable today, in Luke, reminds us to have hope in God’s loving power. The poorly intentioned and misdirected judge eventually gives in to changing the injustice from the persistent widow, only because he fears what she might do to him. Jesus reminds us that God, who so deeply loves and cares for us, would go miles further than the corrupt judge, for our well-being and for merciful justice.
I’m guessing that Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, whose feast day we celebrate today, found hope in this Gospel passage and Jesus’ message of God’s steadfast love and commitment to us and to re-ordering creation. Recounting all of her holy work, from beginning a missionary religious order, to ministering to the Italian immigrants in New York in the late 1890s and early 1900s, to settling up dozens of schools, hospitals and orphanages: it seems clear that Mother Cabrini didn’t lose hope in God’s work in the world, in assuming the injustices would never change and in her collaboration with God to work towards bringing about the Kingdom of God on earth.
Let us hope in the Lord, today, and always, but particularly when the daily activities of life seem overwhelming, when injustice seems insurmountable, when division seems permanent and when love and joy seem distant. May each one of us radiant God’s mercy and compassion in our lives, trusting that God is leading us (and needing us to collaborate) in the divine work of restoring justice and mercy here on Earth!
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
PERSIST AND PRAY
“Listen to what the corrupt judge has to say.” —Luke 18:6
Jesus doesn’t tell us to pay attention to what the widow says. He tells us to pay attention to what the corrupt judge says (Lk 18:6). One message of this parable is that persistent evil can be worn down by persistent good. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world (see 1 Jn 4:4). It may seem to us that there are strongholds of the evil one that cannot be defeated. Evil in our culture may seem to be as giant as Goliath (1 Sm 17:4ff). The widow might seem no more mighty than did the youth David; too small, too weak, no chance to be victorious. Thus, Jesus tells us to pay attention to the response of the judge, who is evil, powerful, and dishonest. The powerful judge is worn down by the seemingly helpless widow.
Evil may seem powerful, but it will not prevail. Therefore, be encouraged and persist in your prayers. If you pray for godly intentions that seem to be unanswered, realize that Jesus is telling you to persist in your prayer. He tells you to pray always and not lose heart (Lk 18:1). In fact, He even says this is a “necessity” (Lk 18:1). Do not lose heart. Pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17) and without losing heart.
Prayer: Father, You speak to me through Jesus (Heb 1:2). Bring me to a new dimension of prayer and trust.
Promise: “He led forth His people with joy; with shouts of joy, His chosen ones.” —Ps 105:43
Praise: Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, affectionately known as “Mother Cabrini,” has the distinction of being the first canonized United States citizen.
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)
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