SATURDAY OF THE THIRTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - 2020

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

To this end he called you, through the gospel we

preach, for he willed you, to share the

glory of Christ Jesus, our Lord. 2THES 2:14

3 JOHN 5:8

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Today we are reminded that we are duty-bound to support the Church in all her endeavors for she toils ceaselessly in Your vineyard to bring the Good News to every corner of the world as You commanded her to.

How easily we grumble, we nitpick, we gossip, we find fault, we sniff out scandals like bloodhounds instead of praying and making penance for our priests, bishops, and even the successor of Peter. While it is right that we judge evil actions it is more important, even imperative, that we leave all judgment to the one whom the Father has appointed as the Just Judge over us all.

Let us resolve to pray, support, and uphold all the good men and women who have consecrated their lives to the service of Your Church and all her members. Let us heed the words of the beloved disciple today who reminds us, that it is our duty to welcome men of this sort and contribute our share to their work for the truth.

PSALM 112:1-6

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

Today we are reminded of the power we will possess by obeying Your commands. Happiness will be ours and our children will be powerful, virtuous, and blessed. 

God, our Father, has given us the Commandments precisely because He is aware of how weak we are, and how easily we will perish by the wayside if we are ignorant of the many pitfalls that can prevent us from walking the narrow path leading to life.

All who take refuge in You, all who make their dwelling place in Your Church are blessed with an abundance of the richest graces and blessings. They are crowned with virtue for they strive to walk in justice and truth. They will not walk in darkness for You are their Light. Those who belong to You can always count on Your mercy for You are full of tender compassion and love.

The only way to strive to be good, to strive after holiness and perfection, is to model our lives on Yours. You are the perfect image of the unseen God and we too are created in His image and likeness. Sadly sin distorts His image in us but if we cling to You, if Your right-hand holds us fast, You will keep us safe for eternal life.  

LUKE 18:1-8

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

The spiritual path is strewn with souls who gave up too easily when their prayers were not answered instantaneously. In a world of instant everything, in a world of I, me, and mine, we have become accustomed to meeting our physical needs on demand and we expect God to act in the same way too.

In today's parable about the persistent widow who was denied her rights by a wicked, unjust judge, You teach us how to pray and how to persevere in prayer. We must first realize that we are like the widow, we have nothing, all we receive comes from diving providence. This is why we must come to You daily and ask humbly for all we need. 

You taught us to address God as Father, Abba, Daddy, for this is what He is and He delights in the confidence we show Him as His little ones, as we make known our needs to Him in prayer. If the widow could finally obtain justice from the wicked judge by tirelessly and persistently demanding it, until out of sheer frustration he granted it to her, how much more will our good, loving, Father in heaven give us all we need in this life both spiritual and temporal if we only ask with faith.

You conclude the parable saying, Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. The final sentence is so full of pathos though, 'But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’ Grant my Beloved, that it is so, that when You return all will believe in You and the whole world will be waiting in rapt wonder for Your return in glory.