“And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?... I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” – Luke 18:7-8

       My nephew, Gabby, loves to eat. He stuffs his mouth with whatever is edible every so often. He eats so much that I sometimes forget that he’s only two years old. The capacity of his tummy is like a miracle from God! He eats grown-up foods, too, like ampalaya, beans and

guyabano. He loves it so much that he has passion and gusto when requesting for food. He repeats everything he says until he gets what he wants.

      When we were in the mall one day, Gabby spotted an ice cream store. He said to me, “Tita Pi, I want ayt crim.” I told him that we could get ice cream after I finish running my errands. Then it all began. He said “I want ayt crim” 127 times per minute in different pleading tones. How could I resist?

       In today’s Gospel, God encourages us to pray persistently for what we need. He knows it even before we ask but God also looks at how much we want it and what our intentions are. God is a generous God. It’s His nature to give; we just need to ask with a pure heart.

       If we do, how can He resist? Pia Angelica Suiza (piasuiza@yahoo.com)

Reflection: What have you been praying for? Are your intentions pure?

I thank You in advance, Lord, for all the answered prayers in my life. Amen.

St. Albert the Great, bishop and doctor of the Church, pray for us.

1^ST READING

We should pray for one another because that is what members of a community do. Family members pray for one another because they love one another. Let us pray for the members of our parish and other communities so that we will be strengthened in following Jesus and living out His call for us.

3 John 5-8

5 Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and sisters, especially for strangers; 6 they have testified to your love before the Church. Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey. 7 For they have set out for the sake of the Name and are accepting nothing from the pagans. 8 Therefore, we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in the truth.

P S A L M

Psalm 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

1 Blessed the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. (R) 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever. 4 Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. (R) 5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; 6 he shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance. (R)

GOSPEL

Justice is integral to the Gospel. Wherever there is injustice, Christians have a duty and responsibility to oppose it. Jesus never tolerates injustice, particularly when it afflicts the poorest and least able members of our community. When we read the Gospels, let us be mindful of how Jesus speaks the truth, whether it makes Him popular or not.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

God has called us through the Gospel, to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 18:1-8

1 Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, 2 “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. 3 And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ 4 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, 5 because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” 6 The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. 7 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? 8 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?”

LIST

think:  When we read the Gospels, let us be mindful of how Jesus speaks the truth, whether it makes Him popular or not.

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: __________________

____________________________________

God’s special verse/thought for me today_

_____________________________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 23-26

PERSISTENT OR NOT

Jesus gives a lesson on prayer in this Gospel through the parable of the widow’s persistence in obtaining justice from a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.

       Persistence can bear good results. I realized this when I invited Ateneo basketball star, Chris Tiu, to be the guest speaker in our high school graduation ceremonies. I thought that his ideas were ideal for the young graduates. I had to link with three persons to get to him. But his schedule was so hectic that he turned down our invitation thrice. He advised us to get another speaker as he could not yet make a commitment. I persisted and told him we were willing to wait until the last day. Other schools were also inviting him. By the grace of God, he finally granted our request. In his speech, he cited our persistence as the reason why he was standing before us.

       Mr. Tiu appreciated how much we wanted him to grace our event. Maybe God also saw how much we wanted what we were asking from Him. But, of course, God has His standards. No matter how persistent we are, if what we need from Him is not in accordance with His will, it will not be granted.

       In the parable, Jesus said that just as the wicked judge gave in to the widow’s persistence, how much more will God, who is generous, loving, perfectly good, and needs no persistence, respond to our prayers? God acts voluntarily, unconditionally and completely free. At times we forget this. We relate to God as if He is human like us. He knows what we need even before we open our mouths to pray, but He does not give them without our asking. Freedom is one of His gifts to us. Thus, the next time we pray to God for something, let us trust that He will be generous. If we are to persist, it will be because we want to show Him our sincerity and need for what we ask for. If our prayer is in accordance with His great will, He will answer it. Fr. Benny Tuazon

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: When you pray for something that you really want, do you show God your persistence? Or do you pray and trust in His infinite goodness and generosity?

Lord, help me to trust more in Your goodness and generosity than in my persistence.