HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF ST. JOSAPHAT, BISHOP AND MARTYR.
THEME: The parable of the unjust judge.
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
HOMILY FOR NOVEMBER 12.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
3 John 5-8
Psalm 111:1-6
Luke 18:1-8
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
RED
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, we heard from the letter of St. John the Apostle speaking to the faithful all around Christendom, calling on all of them to provide for one another with love and care, especially for the missionaries who went from places to places in spreading the Word of God and His Good News of salvation. At that time, early Christian missionaries travelled from place to place without much support and help, save that from God and His strength, and also from the kindness and generosity of the people whom they were visiting, including that from the local Christian communities that had by then been established. Without these support and help, the early Christian missionaries would have indeed found it difficult for them to carry out their mission efficiently.
*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
Jesus was aware that there was always a temptation for people of faith to lose heart, especially when they found themselves faced with hostility. According to today’s gospel reading, Jesus’ parable of the widow and the judge was about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. It portrays a widow who refuses to lose heart even when repeatedly faced with an unjust judge who refused to defend her rights, as he was obliged to do. There was every reason for her to lose heart. The judge was a powerful man and she was a powerless woman. Yet, she persevered with her plea for justice and eventually wore down the unjust judge.
READ ALSO: HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF ST. JOSAPHAT, BISHOP AND MARTYR.
*CONCLUSION*
Jesus sees in the dogged perseverance of this widow the kind of faith that his followers need to have. That is why in his comment on the parable, Jesus asks the question, ‘When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’ Will he find the kind of persevering faith that the widow displayed or will he find that people of faith have lost heart in the face of evil and injustice? The introduction to the parable suggests that it is continuous prayer that gives rise to persevering faith, a faith that never loses heart, ‘Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart’. We give expression to our faith in calm, trusting, constant prayer, but such prayer also keeps our faith strong, especially in the face of hostility, injustice and evil. In prayer we open ourselves to receive the strength that the Lord gives which allows us to face what we could not otherwise face if left to our own resources.
Good Morning to Everyone and may God Bless Us All.
