November 13, 2021

Readings for the Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

Lectionary: 496

Reading I

Wis 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 Psalm

105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43

1.  (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 firstborn 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.

Alleluia

See 2 Thes 2:14

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

Gospel

Lk 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?”

Reflection: WILL JESUS FIND FAITH IN YOU?

Perseverance in prayer is a sign of one's deep faith. It is good to see prayer in the context of a faith-filled relationship with God. Often, we complain that we are not able to pray because of various reasons: boring, not able to get up, tired, did not learn how to pray, etc. When examining all the reasons for our lack of interest in prayer they can be summarized in that one little sentence: 'will he find faith on the earth? A person who is in a loving relationship does not count the time and the energy he or she spends with his or her beloved. Loving relationship changes the scenario. There are parents who will be able to keep awake the whole night at their sick child's bed. There are spouses who can spend hours, days, months and even years at the side of their ailing spouses. I do know of a gentle man, who has inspired many priests and religious who are associated with him. He is able to look after his physically and mentally challenged son with such affection and love for several years. Even today! Love can make this possible! In our relationship with God, such deep loving relationship is called faith. When we are not able to preserve in prayer, what is to be examined is not the time or the place as in many religious communities and parishes do. Or the creativity and novelty that is lacking. What is to be examined is our faith-filled relationship with God and with one another. That will determine our prayer life and its constancy. For sure, God is more just than any just judge. He knows our needs even before we express them. When expressed in a loving and faith-filled relationship we are sure to receive the light from Him even to preserve in prayer. Payer is not getting what we need from God, but to be with Him who first loved us unconditionally.