DAILY- HOMILY

November 16, 2013

Saturday 32nd Week in Ordinary Time - Year I

Memorial, Saint Margaret of Scotland or Saint Gertrude the Great, virgin

Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9 / Ps 105: 2-3. 36-37. 42-43 / Lk 18:1-8

Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9

While all was in quiet silence and the night was in the middle of its course, your almighty Word leapt down from the Royal Throne—a stern warrior to a doomed world. Carrying your fearful command like a sharpened sword and stretching from heaven to earth, he filled the universe with death. All creation in its different forms was fashioned anew at your command, in order to protect your people. The cloud covered the camp with its shadow, dry land emerged where water had been. A safe passage was opened through the Red Sea, the tempestuous flood became a green plain where the whole nation of those protected by your hand passed across, witnessing your astounding deeds. They were like horses led to pasture, or like frolicking lambs, praising you, their Lord, who had delivered them.

Luke 18:1-8

Jesus told them a parable, to show them that they should pray continually, and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain town there was a judge, who neither feared God nor people. In the same town there was a widow, who kept coming to him, saying, 'Defend my rights against my opponent!' For a Time he refused, but finally he thought, 'Even though I neither fear God nor care about people, this widow bothers me so much, I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing me out." And Jesus said, "Listen to what the evil judge says. Will God not do justice for his chosen ones, who cry to him day and night, even if he delays in answering them? I tell you, he will speedily do them justice. But, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Reflection

The readings today reveal the power of prayer especially to God who is full of mercy, empathy and love. Be it to save us from harm like the Israelites escaping from Pharaoh, or to protect us from injustice like the grieving widow, God answers our cries for help in ways that we oftentimes do not understand. He knows that we pray for things that at times are not right for us. He instead gives us what we really need to become better persons.

Truly fortunate is the man that is able to totally surrender himself to God's caring embrace. We resist His persistent calls of kinship due to pride, ignorance and unwillingness to trust. It seems that we first have to be overwhelmed by unsolvable problems before we ask for His divine intervention. While He assures us of His constant support, He challenges us to maintain our faith on the one true God. We are not to grumble nor despair at the slightest sign of delay. Rather, the Lord teaches us to courageously confront issues, armed with the conviction that He will never abandon us.

Prayer Requests

We pray …

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the speedy recovery and healing of

Lorenzo Meoli

Elsa Supsup

Mary Beth

... for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.

Birthday: Jose Carlos P. Marin

Birthday: Robert O. Tiu

… for families who are in need of healing

… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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