Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time

Optional Memorial of Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
 
Proper readings for the Memorial of St. Albert the Great
 
Biographical Information about St. Albert the Great  
 
Or
 
Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
 
On Saturdays in Ordinary Time when there is no obligatory memorial, an optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary is allowed. [1] Mass texts may be taken from the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, from a Votive Mass, or from the special collection of Masses for the Blessed Virgin Mary (USCCB recommends: #42. The Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians).

“Crossing of the Red Sea”
by Cosimo Rosselli, 1481-82

Readings for Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time [2]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
 
Readings and Commentary: [4]
 
Reading 1: Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9
 
When peaceful stillness compassed everything
and the night in its swift course was half spent,
Your all-powerful word, from heaven’s royal throne
bounded, a fierce warrior, into the doomed land,
bearing the sharp sword of your inexorable decree.
And as he alighted, he filled every place with death;
he still reached to heaven, while he stood upon the earth.
 
For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew,
serving its natural laws,
that your children might be preserved unharmed.
The cloud overshadowed their camp;
and out of what had before been water, dry land was seen emerging:
Out of the Red Sea an unimpeded road,
and a grassy plain out of the mighty flood.
Over this crossed the whole nation sheltered by your hand,
after they beheld stupendous wonders.
For they ranged about like horses,
and bounded about like lambs,
praising you, O Lord! their deliverer.
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Commentary on Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9
 
This selection from the Book of Wisdom speaks first of the bondage and death the Hebrews suffered in Egypt. There is a specific intent in this section (called the fifth diptych) to relate the Egyptian massacre of the infants born to the Hebrews, with the tenth plague in which the first sons of Egypt were killed. The image presented is inspired by Exodus 12:23, Job 4 13-15, and 1 Chronicles 21:15-27.
 
In the second section we hear an account of the exodus through the Red Sea, and of the gratitude of those delivered. Again, Wisdom borrows imagery from Exodus 14:19-20 as the freed peoples passed through the sea unimpeded, awestruck by the power of God.
 
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43
 
R. (5a) Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
Then he struck every firstborn throughout their land,
the first fruits of all their manhood.
And he led them forth laden with silver and gold,
with not a weakling among their tribes.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
or:
R. Alleluia.
 
For he remembered his holy word
to his servant Abraham.
And he led forth his people with joy;
with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
or:
R. Alleluia.
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Commentary on Ps 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43
 
This passage from Psalm 105 focuses on the part of the exodus story that deals with the final plague in Egypt. Praise and gratitude flow from those who have seen God’s great works of salvation.
 
CCC: Ps 105:3 30
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Gospel: Luke 18:1-8
 
Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, “There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’
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,
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.’”
The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
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?
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?”
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Commentary on Lk 18:1-8
 
This is the first of two parables on the need for prayer found in St. Luke’s Gospel. In this selection, the Lord tells the disciples of the need for persistent prayer so they do not fall victim to apostasy.  He assures them that God, the just judge, will listen to their prayers, and come speedily to their aid in times of need.
 
“As the widow pleaded for justice, so we should persevere in faith and tirelessly petition God for our needs (Romans 12:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)” In v.6, “His [the unrighteous judge’s] indifference to the widow’s distress was a violation of justice (Deuteronomy 27:19).  The parable’s outcome is thus a mere shadow of God’s concern for us.  If an unjust and callous judge will vindicate a persevering widow, the Father will much more come to the aid of his prayerful children (Sirach 35:12-17).” [5]
 
The question at the end of the parable (“But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”) completes a thought in Luke 17:37, which relates the relationship of the faithful to God at the final judgment.
 
CCC: Lk 18:1-8 2573, 2613; Lk 18:1 2098; Lk 18:8 675
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Reflection:
 
The parable from St. Luke’s Gospel on the need for the disciples to pray constantly has a “folksy” ring to it. It demonstrates a relationship to God that is at once very personal and at the same time respectful. The dishonest judge from the parable would have rendered a judgment in favor of the widow had she been able to bribe him. As the story goes, he renders that judgment because of her persistence. Jesus uses this story as a contrast rather than an example of the effect our constant prayers have on the “Just Judge.” The dishonest judge delayed in rendering judgment. Jesus tells the disciples that the Father will act quickly to answer the prayers of his children.
 
We think the analogy of the mother of an adolescent child probably shows us the relationship Jesus has in mind. The youngster sees things in black and white terms and feels that fairness is their right. So, when they have what they perceive is a “need,” they go quickly to their mother. (Or to their father, but for the sake of this analogy we will use the mother – it’s more realistic. When the child reaches adulthood and they need really big favors – then they go to dad.) The child wants/expects their request to be acted upon quickly; it is after all a dire need. At that age all needs are dire. The mother, in her wisdom sees the bigger picture and understands that perhaps, the excruciating need their child has expressed for say, an iPod or a new phone, might not be quite as life-changing as other needs. Yet when that same child is truly in need of help, their mother will move heaven and earth, at the speed of light if she can, to see the that the child is protected from harm.
 
God sees and hears our prayers in the same way. Some prayers God sees as beyond the scope of his direct involvement, others he sees as unrealistic or absurd. And still other prayers he sees already answered although we may not see or understand how that is possible. An example of that “already answered prayer” is the dying person’s prayer: “Please don’t let me die.” God has already answered that prayer, but not in the way the person requests. God has opened the door to eternal life. All that is necessary is to accept God’s offer.
 
The important conclusion we must draw from the Gospel is that, in praying to God for our wants and needs, we must be willing to accept that we may not understand how God’s answer will come, or when it will come.  The really important message is that we must stay in touch with the Lord.  Communication with him in prayer is our lifeline.
 
Pax

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[1] General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar Miscellaneous Notes no. 5.
[2] The picture is “Crossing of the Red Sea” by Cosimo Rosselli, 1481-82.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, New Testament (Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA. © 2010),140.