NOVEMBER 18, 2017 : SATURDAY OF THE THIRTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 496

Reading 1WIS 18:14-16; 19:6-9

When peaceful stillness compassed everything
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 PsalmPS 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43

R. (5a) Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
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.

AlleluiaSEE 2 THES 2:14

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel,
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 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?"

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Meditation: "Always pray and do not lose heart"

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."

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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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, LUKE 18:1-8
Weekday
(Wisdom 18:14-16, 19:6-9; Psalm 105, or for the Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Acts 28:11-16, 30-31 Matthew 14:22-33)

KEY VERSE: "He told them a parable about the necessity of praying always and not losing heart" (v 1).
TO KNOW: Jesus told his disciples a parable to encourage them to persevere in prayer as they labored to build God's kingdom. In this story, a widow pleaded with a judge for her rights. Such judges may have been appointed either by Herod or by the Romans They were popularly called 'robber judges' as they disregarded both God's law and human need. Unless plaintiffs had influence and money to bribe the judge there was no hope of ever getting their cases settled. Widows were especially poor and defenseless members of society (Deut 10:18; 14:29; 16:11). Without support of a husband and lacking resources of any kind, they had no hope of expecting justice. However, in Jesus' story, the widow persisted in her demand to be heard, and the judge finally relented. Jesus said, if this hardhearted individual could be moved, how much more would God’s children be given what they needed? Jesus asks a hard question: “When the Son of Man returns in glory, will he find any faith on the earth?”
TO LOVE: Do I support just legislation on behalf of the poor and the defenseless?
TO SERVE: Lord God, hear the prayers of those who are treated unjustly.​

MEMORIAL OF THE DEDICATION OF THE BASILICAS OF THE APOSTLES PETER AND PAUL IN ROME

The Basilica of Saint Peter, in which the most important ceremonies of the Catholic Church are celebrated, stands on the site of a much smaller basilica erected in the years 324 - 349 by the Roman emperor Constantine to honor the tomb of the first Pope, the apostle Peter. The four colossal columns and the connecting arches on which the dome rests, which were aligned with the saint's tomb, was the work of Donato Bramante, the inspiration behind the initial project of the "new Saint Peter's." After Bramante's death in 1514, the commission was entrusted to some of the greatest architects and artists of the time: Giuliano da Santagallo Fra Giocondo, Raphael, Baldassarre Peruzzi, Antonio da Santagallo and Michelangelo. The latter was responsible for the apse, the transept and the dome, and the frescos on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Saint Paul's Outside the Walls is a major basilica built outside Rome as the traditional burial place of Saint Paul. After his execution and burial in Rome in the 1st century AD, Saint Paul's followers erected a shrine over the grave. Early Christians frequently visited the site to honor the great Apostle to the Gentiles who authored more than half of the New Testament. The first church on the site was a small one, founded by Emperor Constantine and consecrated on November 18, 324. In 386 Emperor Theodosius demolished the original church and began the construction of a much larger and more beautiful basilica, but the work was not completed until the pontificate of Saint Leo the Great (440-461). Although heavily restored, the present basilica looks much the same as it did in the 4th century

Memorial of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin

Rose Perier, was a member of a leading family from the Dauphine region. She joined the Visitation nuns in Grenoble at age 19. Religious communities were outlawed during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution, and her convent was closed in 1792. She spent the next ten years living as a laywoman. She established a school for poor children, provided care for the sick, and hid priests from Revolutionaries. When the Terror ended, she reclaimed her convent and tried to reestablish it. However, most of her community were gone, and in 1804 the group was incorporated into the Society of the Sacred Heart nuns. Rose made her final vows in 1805 and she and four sisters were sent as missionaries to the Louisiana Territory to found the Society's presence in America. She was ever concerned about the plight of Native Americans, and much of her work was devoted to educating them. She was known to the native people as "Woman-Who-Prays-Always." She spent her last ten years in retirement in a tiny shack at the convent in Saint Charles, Missouri where she lived austerely and in constant prayer. ​

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Saturday 18 November 2017

Dedication of The Basilicas Of Ss Peter and Paul.

Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9. Psalm 104(105):2-3, 36-37, 42-43. Luke 18:1-8.

Remember the marvels the Lord has done – Psalm 104(105):2-3, 36-37, 42-43.

Pray continually and never lose heart.

Then he told them a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.

Dear Lord, what comforting words you use today. We know that prayer does not mean asking all the time but it does mean recognising our need of you and seeing your love and help in every aspect of our lives.

We read those wonderful words in Wisdom that you turned the water into a dry plain and, sheltered by you, a whole nation passed across with the result that your people skipped like lambs singing your praises. Teach us to be so happy and grateful with you in our lives that we skip like lambs even if it has to be metaphoric. Teach us to say thank you continually for all you do for us and to be joyful in your love.

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DEDICATION OF THE CHURCHES OF PETER AND PAUL

This feast celebrates the dedications of two of the four major basilicas of Rome.

Saint Peter’s Basilica was originally built in 323 by the emperor Constantine.  The basilica was constructed over the tomb of Peter the Apostle, the Church’s first Pope.  After standing for more than a thousand years, Pope Julius II ordered the building to be torn down due to structural concerns.  The construction of the new church spanned over 200 years before its completion. It was dedicated on Nov. 18, 1626.  It is considered the most famous church in Christendom.

Saint Paul´s Basilica is located outside the original walls of Rome. It was also originally built by the emperor Constantine though it was destroyed by fire in 1823. Donations from around the world made the reconstruction possible. Before the completion of Saint Peter´s Basilica, St Paul's was the largest church in Rome.  The Basilica was built over St. Paul´s grave.  Pope Pius IX consecrated the Basilica in 1854.

These two churches continue to draw millions of faithful pilgrims each year as well as many visitors from other faiths .

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LECTIO DIVINA: LUKE 18,1-8

Lectio Divina: 

 Saturday, November 18, 2017

Ordinary Time

1) Opening prayer

God of power and mercy,
protect us from all harm.
Give us freedom of spirit
and health in mind and body
to do your work on earth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

2) Gospel reading - Luke 18:1-8

Jesus told a parable to His disciples about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. There was a judge in a certain town, who had neither fear of God nor respect for anyone In the same town there was also 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,Even though I have neither fear of God nor respect for any human person, I must give this widow her just rights is troublesome to me, lest continually coming she weary me."
And the Lord said, "You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now, will not God see justice done to His elect if they keep calling to Him day and night even though He still 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?

3) Reflection

• Today’s Gospel presents an element which is very dear to Luke: Prayer. This is the second time that Luke gives us the words of Jesus to teach us to pray. The first time (Lk 11, 1-13), He taught us the Our Father and, by means of comparisons and parables, He taught that we have to pray continually, without getting tired. Now, this second time, (Lk 18,1-8), He uses a parable taken from life to teach us insistence in prayer. It is the parable of the widow who pestered the unscrupulous judge. The way He presents the parable is very didactic. In the first place, Luke presents a brief introduction which serves as the key for the reading.  Afterwards, he narrates the parable. Finally, Jesus Himself explains it.
• Luke 18, 1: The introduction. Luke presents the parable with the following phrase: “Then He told them a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart". The recommendation “to pray without losing heart” appears many times in the New Testament (1 Th 5, 17; Rm 12, 12; Ep 6, 18; etc), aAnd it is a characteristic of the spirituality of the first Christian communities.
• Luke 18, 2-5: The parable. Then Jesus presents two personages of real life: a judge who had no consideration for God and no consideration for others, and a widow who struggles to obtain her rights from the judge. The simple fact of indicating these two personages reveals the critical conscience which He had regarding the society of His time. The parable presents the poor people who struggle in the tribunal to obtain their rights. The judge decides to pay attention to the widow and to do justice. The reason is to free himself from the widow who is pestering him and to get rid of her. This is an  interesting reason. But the widow obtained what she wanted! This is an example from daily life, which Jesus uses to teach us to pray.
• Luke 18, 6-8: The application. Jesus applies the parable: “You notice what the unjust judge has said. Now, will not God see justice done to His elect if they keep calling to Him day and night even though He still delays to help them? Will He make them wait long? I tell you He will see justice done to them, and done speedily”. If it had not been Jesus, we would not have had the courage to compare Jesus to an unjust judge!Nevertheless, at the end, Jesus expresses a doubt: “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”  In other words, will we have the courage to wait and  have patience, even if God delays in doing what we ask him?
• Jesus in prayer. The first Christians had an image of Jesus in prayer, in permanent contact with the Father. In fact, the life of Jesus was to do the will of the Father (Jn 5, 19). Jesus prayed very much and insisted that  His disciples also pray. T. Luke is the Evangelist who gives us a great deal of information on the prayer life of  Jesus. He presents Jesus in constant prayer. The following are some moments in which Jesus appears praying:
- When He was twelve years old and goes to the temple, to the House of the Father (Lk 2, 46-50).
- He prays when He is baptized and  assumes His mission (Lk 3, 21).
- At the beginning of the mission, He spends forty days in the desert (Lk 4, 1-2).
- At ta time of temptation, He opposes the devil with  texts from Scripture (Lk 4, 3-12).
- Jesus used to participate in the celebration in the Synagogue on Saturday (Lk 4, 16)
- He seeks solitude in the desert to pray (Lk 5, 16; 9, 18).
- Before choosing the twelve Apostles, He spends the night in prayer (Lk 6, 12).
- He prays before meals (Lk 9, 16; 24, 30).
-  (Lk 9, 18).
- In a time of crises, He goes up to the mountain and pray where he is transfigured.   (Lk 9, 28).
- When revealing the Gospel to  little ones He says: “Father, I thank you!” (Lk 10, 21)
- In praying, He arouses in the Apostles the desire to pray (Lk 11, 1).
- He prays for Peter so that he does not lose his faith (Lk 22, 32).
- He celebrates the Paschal Supper with His disciples (Lk 22, 7-14).
- In the Garden of Olives, He prays, even when sweating blood (Lk 22, 41-42).
- In the anguish of the agony, He asks His friends to pray with Him (Lk 22, 40.46).
- At the moment when He was being nailed to the Cross, He asks pardon for the murderers (Lk 23, 34).
- At the hour of death, He says“Into your hands I commend my spirit!” (Lk 23, 46; Ps 31, 6)
- Jesus dies crying out with the cry of the poor (Lk 23, 46).
• This long list indicates everything which follows. For Jesus, prayer is intimately linked to life, to concrete facts, and to the decisions which He had to take. In order to be able to be faithful to the project of the Father, He sought to remain alone with Him. He listened to Him. In difficult and decisive moments in His life, Jesus recited Psalms. Just as any devout Jew, He knew them by heart. The recitation of the Psalms did not take away His creativity. Rather, Jesus Himself created a Psalm which He transmitted to us: the Our Father. His life is a permanent prayer: “I always seek the will of the one who sent me!” (Jn 5, 19.30) The Psalm applies to Him when it says: “I am prayer!” (Ps 109, 4)

 4) Personal questions

• There are people who say that they do not know how to pray, but they speak with God the whole day. Do you know  such a person? There are many ways  which people express their devotion and pray today. What are they?
• What do these two parables teach us on prayer? What do they teach me regarding the way of seeing life and persons?

5) Concluding prayer

How blessed is anyone who fears Yahweh,
who delights in His commandments!
His descendants shall be powerful on earth,
the race of the honest shall receive blessings. (Ps 112,1-2)

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