A Terrible Judge
Nov. 18: Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, Luke instructs us how to interpret Jesus’ parable.
We’re not so lucky with the first reading, which is a little ambiguous. I’m pretty sure that the composers of the lectionary want us to interpret it as a prophesy about Jesus. I think. Probably.
Reading I
Wis 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.
The first paragraph (from chapter 18) is about the Word, which we now naturally connect with Jesus. As we believe in the trinity, Jesus was there at the creation. He came to Earth, after the fall, and still reached Heaven.
That’s why the lectionary skips over to the next chapter, where the Israelites follow God across the Red Sea. In the same way, we follow Jesus to our promised land—Heaven.
Responsorial Psalm
105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43
R. Remember the marvels the Lord has done!
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!
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!
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!
God has worked His plan throughout history. Sometimes, it’s extremely obvious, like the Exodus; sometimes it’s more subtle, like putting people in our lives who we need, or who need us.
Alleluia
See 2 Thes 2:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called us through the Gospel,
to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God has called on each and every one of us. His love is such that He can know us individually.
Gospel
Lk 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?”
I think Luke added the first verse to make sure no one misinterpreted the parable. “What do you mean, God is an unjust judge?”
The point is that if persistence is going to convince an unjust judge to do the right thing, how much more is a just and loving God going to hear our prayers?
That doesn’t mean He’s going to give us exactly what we ask for. That actually wouldn’t be just or loving. God isn’t a genie or a wishing star. He loves all of us, which means accounting for the needs of all of humanity. We couldn’t possible understand what His plans are. We can only have faith that they’re for our ultimate good.