Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: November 18, 2023

Date in the Ordine: Saturday of 32nd Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text: Luke 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?”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Today’s gospel text, taken from the Gospel of Luke, bring us the account of Jesus’ parable with his disciples concerning faithful prayer. In the parable, the uncaring judge was moved to act because of the woman’s persistence. Jesus then asks the disciples to compare the loving LORD to that uncaring judge. “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?” Our reasoning tells us that the loving LORD will answer us, especially when we are persistent and consistent.

But then Jesus asks the disciples and us a most serious and thought-provoking question: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” We should give that question some serious thought, especially as we look about us and our modern world. But we must also ask it of ourselves. Are we being persistent and consistent in our own faith?

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I seek daily to grow my faith, to strengthen my relationship with the LORD? Do I call upon the LORD daily for help in living the life called to live as a child of the LORD and disciple of Jesus?

Praying:

LORD, we do believe. Help our unbelief. Grant that this day and all days, we will seek to grow in our relationship with You, to become the daughters and sons you created us to be, the disciples You call us to be, your Spirit led people. Give us the gift of fortitude in our faith and of persistence in our hope as we open ourselves daily to your transformative love. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.