Saturday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year 1 2023

Title

Judgment is Coming

Outline

The readings today may seem strange

Wisdom speaks of God’s word personified, something like a death angel, first bringing slaughter to Egypt, to high born and slave alive, and then, in the wilderness, also to Israel, where we get the picture of Aaron, at Moses’ instruction, putting coals in a censer and rushing between the living and the dead. Now Wisdom indicates that each knew the reason for his or her doom and that the doom came at God’s word.

The Gospel talks about an unrighteous judge who, for whatever reason, was unwilling accede to a widow’s request, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ He finally gives the decision, but only, as he says, “‘I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’ ” [or “wear me out” out in some translations - he wants to avoid shame (the striking) or exhaustion.] Then in a qol-we-homer or a fortiori argument Jesus concludes: “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?”

In a world filled with injustice these can bring comfort

It seems that might makes right, lies are taken as truth, and good guys and gals come in last. The wars are the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Look at politics. Look at the business world. Abuse of employees and deception of the public for the aggrandizement of the boss and politician. Look at the church world, right now especially the Protestant one, and megachurch pastor after megachurch pastor (and also leaders of many parachurch organizations) who have gotten ahead over the bodies of burnt out and abused church employees and volunteers are now being exposed, but not before the faith of many has been damaged: deconstruction of the faith is a common theme.

And God is saying, the judgment, whether it be exposure or death or financial collapse will come even if it takes a while of calling upon the Lord day and night - he will act “speedily” but his “speedily” is not necessarily our “speedily.” Judgment came in the Old Testament, but often after decades of waiting, prophecies that seemed to be unfulfilled, and then through the wrong hands (remember Habakkuk learning that judgment was coming through the Chaldeans and being shocked). But it is a comfort the know that St Theresa Benedicta of the Cross was avenged in the collapse of the Third Reich. And many other such examples can be given.

It is also a comfort to know that the righteous can help mitigate judgment, especially when it is the purification of God’s followers. Aaron’s action did that and likely Pope Pius XII’s covert funneling of Jews through the Vatican to safety saved not only them, but also the Vatican, among others. He would reign 13 years beyond the end of WWII.

But it is also a warning

It is a warning to me to realize that any sins I may be covering will be exposed and judged, maybe in this life and maybe after this life.

It is a warning to me not to judge those I see doing evil or get angry at them, but to turn my anger into prayers for repentance and my judging to tears call for mercy for the evildoers. I need to love my enemies. And if I give way to hate, I have joined them. I need to join Jesus on the cross and let his mercy flow through me.

When we do not expect God’s word will leap down in judgment and when we are exhausted with calling out to him day and night his speedy judgment will come to save his followers.

Despite this, I need to look around and then most importantly look into my heart as ask, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Will he find faith in me?

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 11-18-2023: Saturday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Wisdom of Solomon 18:14–16

14 For when peaceful stillness encompassed everything

and the night in its swift course was half spent,

15 Your all-powerful word from heaven’s royal throne

leapt into the doomed land,

16 a fierce warrior bearing the sharp sword of your inexorable decree,

And alighted, and filled every place with death,

and touched heaven, while standing upon the earth.

Catholic Daily Readings 11-18-2023: Saturday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 105:5a

5 Recall the wondrous deeds he has done,

his wonders and words of judgment,

PSALM

Psalm 105:2–3, 36–37, 42–43

2 Sing praise to him, play music;

proclaim all his wondrous deeds!

3 Glory in his holy name;

let hearts that seek the LORD rejoice!

36 He struck down every firstborn in the land,

the first fruits of all their vigor.

37 He brought his people out,

laden with silver and gold;

no one among the tribes stumbled.

42 For he remembered his sacred promise

to Abraham his servant.

43 He brought his people out with joy,

his chosen ones with shouts of triumph.

Catholic Daily Readings 11-18-2023: Saturday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

2 Thessalonians 2:14

14 To this end he has [also] called you through our gospel to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

GOSPEL

Luke 18:1–8

1 Then he told them 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?”

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 11-18-2023: Saturday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY OF THE THIRTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 1 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

On the same date: Dedication of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles; Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin

First Reading Wisdom of Solomon 18:14–16

Response Psalm 105:5a

Psalm Psalm 105:2–3, 36–37, 42–43

Gospel Acclamation 2 Thessalonians 2:14

Gospel Luke 18:1–8