November 14, 2015

Nov. 14

November 14, 2015:  Saturday, 32nd week, Ordinary Time

See more than 10 connections with today?
Legend below

Listen

For the psalm
  • Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9  When all was still, your all-powerful word bounded from heaven into the doomed land, bearing the sword of your decree, filling every place with death, reaching to heaven.  Creation was being made over, that your children might be preserved.  Dry land emerged from what was water, a road out of the Red Sea, a plain out of the flood.  The nation crossed over, sheltered by your hand, praising you.

  • Ps 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43  "Remember the marvels the Lord has done!"  Sing praise to him:  He led his people forth.  He remembered his word.

  • Lk 18:1-8  “There was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people.  A widow would come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me.’  He eventually thought, ‘Because she keeps bothering me, I'll deliver a just decision for her lest she strike me.’  Won't God swiftly secure the rights of his chosen ones who call to him?”
Reflect
    • Creighton:  The story of the unjust judge who gives in is set in contrast to a God who desires justice and compassion for his chosen.  If someone bad can do something good for the wrong reasons, how much more will a just God do for us for the right reasons.  So we are to keep asking for what we want.  If we're willing to name what we think we want or need, it gives God room within us to illumine our desire and its truth.  I may think I want something, but when I pray for it, I discover my desire is off base and open up to God’s reshaping that desire.  I think I want something but then understand I really desire something else but didn't know how to name it.  Constant prayer awakens me to my real longing for God.  And if I really want something, God may have planed that desire, so that I'll be able to receive it.  When I name it, I become a partner with God, taking some responsibility for becoming one of God’s chosen.  God delights in responding to us.  God delights in our delight....
    • One Bread, One Body:  "Fast answers to prayer":  It takes faith to face the terrible condition of our world and our desperate need for God, but when we pray in faith, aware of our dependence on God, and keep calling out to the Lord, God's all-powerful Word will bound into our land, the Lord will intervene, break through, and set us free.
    • Passionist:  Jesus tells the disciples it's necessary for them to pray.  Two pieces of advice have changed my life:  (1) Pray to Jesus like you're sitting with a friend you love and who loves you, sharing joys, challenges, struggles, saying where you are, honest, not holding back; invite him into your life.  (2) Make prayer a priority, a daily commitment.  Prayer draws us closer to the Lord.  “We encounter the Lord in prayer, the Eucharist, and serving the poor” (Mother Theresa).  Do we heed Jesus' call to pray?
    • DailyScripture.net:  "Always pray; don't lose heart":  Through persistence the defenseless widow wears down an unscrupulous judge.  Persistence also pays off for those who trust in God.  But we can lose heart and forget to ask for grace and help.  Jesus told the parable to give fresh hope and confidence in God's care and favor.  We can expect trials and adversity, but we have hope in God.  God's justice triumphs over all injustice, and God's love is stronger than death.  Those who entrust their lives to God can look forward with confident assurance; they'll be rewarded.  Will we have faith that perseveres?  Faith is God's gift.  To grow and persevere in faith, we must nourish it with God's word and ask the Lord to increase it....
      • St. Laurenc O'Toole (Lorcán Ua Tuathail), bishop
      • Beatified Martyrs of Clifton Diocese:  12 priests, 11 monks, 4 laymen, 1 laywoman
      • Reading Martyrs:  Hugh Cook Faringdon, Benedictine abbot; John Eynon, priest; prebendary John Rugge
    Dress legend
    • 'Sword' tie pin:  Your word bounded into the land, bearing the sword of your decree (1st reading)
    • 'Clouds' tie:  The cloud overshadowed their camp (1st reading)
    • 'Hand' tie pin:  Over this crossed the nation sheltered by your hand (1st reading)
    • 'Horse' tie pin:  They ranged about like horses... (1st reading)
    • 'Lamb' tie bar:  ...and bounded about like lambs (1st reading)
    • 'Girl with heart' pin:  Rejoice, hearts that seek the Lord! (psalm)
    • Silver- and gold-colored accessories:  He led them laden with silver and gold (psalm)
    • 'Scales of justice' pin:  'Render a just decision for me' / 'I will'  (gospel)
    • 'Phone' tie bar:  Won't God secure the rights of those who 'call' to him? (gospel)
    • Green in shirt:  Ordinary Time season
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