DAILY- HOMILY

November 16, 2019 – SATURDAY, 32ND Week in Ordinary Time
Sts. Roque Gonzalez, Juan del Castillo,
and Alphonsus Rodriguez, Priests and Martyrs / St. Margaret of Scotland, Widow /
St. Gertrude the Great, Religious
Memorial. Red.

Wis 18: 14 – 16; 19: 6 – 9 / Lk 18: 1 – 8

Jesuit Sts. Roque Gonzalez (1576 – 1628) from Paraguay, Spanish missionaries Juan del Castillo (1596 - 1628) and Alphonsus Rodriguez (1598 – 1628), were martyred in the Jesuit reductions in South America for their Christian faith.

Born in Hungary St. Margaret of Scotland (1046 – 1093) married King Malcolm III of Scotland and was renowned for her concern for the poor and support for reform.

Born in Germany, St.. Gertrude (1256 – 1301) joined the Cistercians and propagated devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

FROM THE 1ST READING: Wis 19: 6 – 8
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.

GOSPEL READING: Lk 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 was a widow who kept coming to him saying, 'Defend my rights against my opponent.'

"For a time he refused, and finally he thought: "Even though I neither fear God nor care about people, this widow bothers me too much. I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing me out.'"

And Jesus explained, "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? Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

REFLECTION
In the Gospel parable about the "judge who neither feared God nor people" and the persistent widow, Jesus teaches us that prayer is powerful but that persistent prayer even more powerful. Because of her persistence in bothering the judge, the judge decides, "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."

If this evil and irreligious judge grants the request of the persistent widow, how much more are we assured that our heavenly Father will grant our requests, "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."

So often we may feel God is not replying to our prayers. But we are assured that our heavenly Father will reply to our prayers: "As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (Mt 7: 11)

The first reading from the Book of Wisdom gives us assurance of God's generosity and power when we see his "astounding deeds" for Israel.

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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