GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 12TH NOVEMBER 2016
SATURDAY OF THE 32ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
(MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOSAPHAT, BISHOP & MARTYR)
1ST READING: 3John 5-8
PSALM: Psalm 112:1-6
GOSPEL: Luke 18:1-8
THEME: KEEP PRAYING
Prayers do not seem to be answered always. There are some who have prayed hard for a good marriage but unfortunately have had the unpleasant experience of watching their marriage break down beyond repairs. Others have sought the face of God for the fruit of the womb and it never happened. Some too have persistently prayed for a loved one to be healed of an ailment and unfortunately the person died. Others have sincerely fasted and prayed for a job but “nothing” really changed. Against these crushing prayer-experiences, some have lost interest in prayer. For many, there seem to be no real motivation to go back to God in prayer.
In our Gospel text, Jesus, with the aid of the “parable of the widow and the judge”, suggests that if an unjust judge would vindicate a persevering widow, then God would much more come to the aid of those who place their faith in him and express it through persistent prayer. He tells his disciples, “Will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18: 7-8). In this statement of Jesus, we discover the clue to a fruitful prayer life – FAITH.
Faith is primarily about relationship. It is about trusting in God even if things are not going our way. Faith inspires prayer and prayer deepens faith and when faith has stood the test of time, all things are possible.
You may be going through stressful and unpleasant experiences at this point in time in your life. Perhaps, all that you have is a little faith that is dying quickly on account of the challenges that have come your way. Consider fanning this little faith into flames with the power of prayer. As your faith in God deepens, you would come to discover that there is nothing that God cannot do. Courage, there is a way out of every situation that you have found yourself in.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to you once more. I have knocked and knocked and knocked. Today, I knock again with deep faith in my heart. In your mercy, come to my aid, open the door of favour and grant me a living testimony. Amen.
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).