Mass Readings for : Saturday, 18th November, 2023

Liturgical Readings for : Saturday, 18th November, 2023

Saturday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time, Year 1
Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss Peter and Paul, Rome

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9
The Red Sea became an unimpeded way , and they skipped like lambs,

When peaceful silence lay over all, and night had run the half of her swift course,
down from the heavens, from the royal throne, leapt your all-powerful Word;
into the heart of a doomed land the stern warrior leapt.
Carrying your unambiguous command like a sharp sword, he stood, and filled the universe with death;
he touched the sky, yet trod the earth.
For, to keep your children from all harm, the whole creation, obedient to your commands,
was once more, and newly, fashioned in its nature.

Overshadowing the camp there was the cloud,
where water had been, dry land was seen to rise,
the Red Sea became an unimpeded way, the tempestuous flood a green plain;
sheltered by your hand, the whole nation passed across, gazing at these amazing miracles.
They were like horses at pasture, they skipped like lambs, singing your praises, Lord, their deliverer.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm    Ps 104: 2-3. 36-37.42-43. Rv 5
Response     Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
Or                                            Alleluia!

l. O sing to the Lord, sing his praise; tell all his wonderful works!
Be proud of his holy name, let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice. Response

2. He struck all the first-born in their land, the finest flower of their sons.
He led out Israel with silver and gold. In his tribes were none who fell behind. Response

3. For he remembered his holy word, which he gave to Abraham his servant.
So he brought out his people with joy, his chosen ones with shouts of rejoicing. Response

Gospel Acclamation Jms 1:21
Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept and submit to the word, which has been planted in you and can save your souls.
Alleluia!

Or 2Thess 2: 14
Alleluia, alleluia!
Through the Good News God called us to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL

The Lord be with you. And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 18:1-8 Glory to you, O Lord.
God will see justice done to his chosen who cry to him

Jesus told them a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.
‘There was a judge in a certain town‘ he said
‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.” ‘

And the Lord said
‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? 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.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

***********************

Gospel Reflection Saturday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time Luke 18:1-8

The figure of the widow in the parable of today’s gospel reading is a wonderful portrayal of the refusal to get discouraged, even when everything goes against you and you come up against the worst instincts of other people. The widow encountered a judge who had no respect for God or other people, and yet she kept coming to him until she got the justice that she was obviously entitled to. Jesus paints this picture of a persevering widow who refuses to get discouraged because it captures the kind of faith that he is looking for from his disciples. Having spoken the parable, Jesus asks the question, ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’

Jesus is asking, when he comes back at the end of time, will be find a faith that has the same quality of dogged perseverance displayed by the widow in the parable. Jesus is calling for a faith that endures, that refuses to give up, even when all the supports for faith seem to be taken away. These have been difficult times for people of faith. We have all experienced the temptation to discouragement. Yet, Jesus is saying in today’s gospel reading that to be a believer is to be a persistent believer. The supreme example of a persistent believer was Jesus himself. In spite of the evil he encountered in various forms, he remained faithful to the end, even as he hung on the cross. The widow is a Jesus figure. Like her, we are all called to have something of Jesus’ persevering faith.