Sending Letters
Nov. 16: Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
John’s third epistle illustrates the problems of central authority in the ancient world. In a passage after today’s first reading, John mentions Diotrephes, who professes to be a Christian. Yet he doesn’t recognize the authority of the apostles, and even spreads malicious lies about them, so John condemns him.
But it’s not like he issued a proclamation that was announced worldwide through mass media, like a bishop might do today. When a controversy arose in the first century, it could sometimes take months to get a response from an apostle (or their heirs, the bishops). The faithful had to remain patient for answers, something we’re very much not used to today.
Reading 1
3 Jn 5-8
Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and sisters, especially for strangers; they have testified to your love before the Church. Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey. For they have set out for the sake of the Name and are accepting nothing from the pagans. Therefore, we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in the truth.
A letter epistle of recommendation from one of the twelve apostles probably went a long way. But John claims no credit for them. They’re not his followers, but Christ’s. Although John is distant from them, Jesus is always close. He is what unites all Christians, around the world and across time.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Notice that the claim is not that God will reward the man who fears Him with wealth and riches for his own sake. God chooses to bless him (and us) so that we can also be generous with our blessings.
This applies to the first reading—the pilgrims aren’t going to stay at Gaius’ home, but merely stop over on their way to spread the Gospel even further. Whether we’re giving or receiving, we should always keep God in the forefront of our minds.
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.