Thank God that He didn’t answer all your prayers.

Imagine if God answers all our whims, wishes, and prayers, then we would be in big trouble.

Let’s say it’s too hot one day and you blurted out, “Hay! Sana magunaw na ang mundo! (I wish the world would end!)”

Boom! The end of the world comes and God says, “Touch- move. You prayed. I answered!”

God knows what’s best for you.

He said no to that man you wanted because He is preparing the right guy for you.

He said no to that deal because He knows a better one is coming.

He said, ‘’Wait,” because He knows if you get it now, you would just destroy it.

So trust His timing.

He is the Master of time.

Trust His plan.

He has been in your future.

Trust His heart.

You are there in the center of it. Arun Gogna (arun.gogna@ymail.com)

Reflect:

Are you waiting for something? It will come in His perfect time.

I trust You in everything, my Lord and King. Amen.

St. Margaret of Scotland, pray for us.

Hospitality is an important part of Christian witness. Nothing makes us feel better in a new place than a welcoming smile from locals who have lived there for a long time. Think of the last time you met a new person at a meeting. Did you go out of your way to make him feel welcome?

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.

Responsorial Psalm | 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 | Luke 18:1-8

I once heard a story where someone said that the best intercessors are those who do not know how to keep quiet. And you are doing them a favor, too, as you are giving them something worthwhile to persevere at. Let us also pray for the grace of perseverance.

Gospel Acclamation

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

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?”

Read the Bible in one year! Read ACTS 9 - 12 today.

Today’s parable of the wicked judge and the persistent woman seems to give the impression that just as the woman was able to get what she wanted from a wicked judge due to her persistence, we will also get what we want from God by being persistent. That is a mistake. That is a drastic conclusion. That is trivializing the message of Jesus’ parable. While persistence is a sign of will to possess, the focus of Jesus here is the great difference between God and the wicked judge. God is generous and good while the judge is wicked. Jesus, in order to bring home His point, puts everything into extremes in His parables.

The message of Jesus is this: if a judge, who does not fear God nor man, after much persistence from the weakest ones (women during the time of Jesus were considered lesser citizens), gave in to the request of the woman, how much more will God, who is all good and essentially generous? In fact, God does not need our persistence, for He gives freely and justly. If He needs us to be persistent, it is to make us express our needs and wants before Him. Persistence is a form of humility. When one is persistent, he makes himself vulnerable. When one is persistent, he reveals himself as in dire need and willing to do everything to get what he needs. Before God, a persistent person is disposed and worthy of His graces.

We cannot treat God like one who can be bribed or softened by kind actions. God gives from His goodness and wisdom. The challenge to us is to know His will so we will know how, when, what, and why we must ask. For indeed, God gives to those who ask, opens the door to those who knock, and provides to those who seek. The Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints were experts on these. They knew the Lord Jesus—His ways, His heart, and His will. That is why we are encouraged to be close to the Blessed Mother and to the Saints. Through them, we can know a lot about the Lord.

Next time you pray, trust that God hears and responds. On the other hand, let us make ourselves always worthy and disposed to God’s graces. Fr. Benny Tuazon

reflection questions

What was your experience of being graced? How do you think the grace was granted?

Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done. Amen.

Today, I pray for: _______________________________