Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Saturday, 15 November 2014

Roman Catholic The Word Among Us Daily Mass Reading & Daily Meditation for Saturday, 15 November 2014
Meditation: Luke 18: The Story of the Persistent Widow
1-3 Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. He said, “There was once a judge in some city who never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. A widow in that city kept after him: ‘My rights are being violated. Protect me!’
4-5 “He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said to himself, ‘I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. But because this widow won’t quit badgering me, I’d better do something and see that she gets justice—otherwise I’m going to end up beaten black-and-blue by her pounding.’”
6-8 Then the Master said, “Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying? So what makes you think God won’t step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won’t he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?”
Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Render a just decision for me against my adversary. (Luke 18:3)
How often, when you hear this story, do you picture a stocky old woman with a grating voice—someone whose talent for nagging resembles the persistence of a cold sore or an ingrown toenail? Maybe a better approach would be to look at her as a model of confidence, contentment, and courage.
It’s possible that this woman’s persistence came from her confidence in God and his provision. You can imagine her conviction that God would never abandon one of his children.
In addition to confidence, imagine how content this woman might have been. She persisted in prayer even as she waited on God’s timing. Though we don’t know why God sometimes delays, we can learn, like her, to be patient and to pray continually, not out of desperation but in hope. Such prayer can calm our hearts. It can teach us that in praying and obeying to the best of our ability, we are doing all that God asks of us. The rest is up to him, and he will answer according to his infinite wisdom.
Finally, imagine how courageous this widow must have been. It takes fortitude to soldier on when things aren’t going your way. It’s tempting to lose hope when your prayers are not immediately answered. Obstacles and setbacks may lead you shrink back and try not to bother God anymore, lest he become angry and punish you. It takes a certain amount of courage to keep reminding Almighty God of your needs—and this woman seems to have had it!
Jesus ended his parable by asking whether, when he returns, he will find any faith on the earth. This was not an arbitrary question that he stuck in as an afterthought. The kind of faith Jesus is looking for is the faith of this persistent widow: a faith of confidence, contentment, and courage. When we have faith like this, our prayers are not filled with desperate begging but with joyful expectancy. So don’t be afraid to place your needs before the Lord. You don’t have to wear him down before he will act!
“Lord, help me become more confident in your goodness and content to let things unfold according to your will. Give me the courage to persist in my prayer, even as you give me the peace of knowing that you will work things out for my good.” Amen!
3 John 1: Model the Good
5-8 Dear friend, when you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even when they are strangers, you make the faith visible. They’ve made a full report back to the church here, a message about your love. It’s good work you’re doing, helping these travelers on their way, hospitality worthy of God himself! They set out under the banner of the Name, and get no help from unbelievers. So they deserve any support we can give them. In providing meals and a bed, we become their companions in spreading the Truth.
Psalms 112:1-10 Hallelujah!
Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God,
Who cherish and relish his commandments,
Their children robust on the earth,
And the homes of the upright—how blessed!
Their houses brim with wealth
And a generosity that never runs dry.
Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people—
God’s grace and mercy and justice!
The good person is generous and lends lavishly;
No shuffling or stumbling around for this one,
But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation.
Unfazed by rumor and gossip,
Heart ready, trusting in God,
Spirit firm, unperturbed,
Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,
They lavish gifts on the poor—
A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.
An honored life! A beautiful life!
Someone wicked takes one look and rages,
Blusters away but ends up speechless.
There’s nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing.
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