Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Songs

Entrance:

Preparation of the Gifts:

Communion:

Recessional:

Ordo

“NOTE      Gr   V1R1

HOURS*    Pss I   Seasonal prop

MASS      Prop   Gl   Cr   Sun Pf I–VIII

RDGS      147: Ex 17:8-13   Ps 121:1-8   2 Tm 3:14—4:2   Lk 18:1-8 or, for Mission Sunday, see Lectionary, vol. IV, nos. 872-876 (see PN under 12 October)

Through incessant prayer, we open ourselves more fully to understanding God’s will. Through faith in the power of prayer (3), we experience God’s love and assistance (1, Ps). Our Christian life is nourished by the scriptures we read and by our received tradition (2).”

Readings

Lectionary for Mass: For Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, Second Typical Edition, Volumes I–IV (147. Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time C) 147. TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME C FIRST READING As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight. A reading from the Book of Exodus (17:8–13) In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel. Moses, therefore, said to Joshua, “Pick out certain men, and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle. I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur. As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. Moses’ hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. The word of the Lord. RESPONSORIAL PSALM (Ps 121:1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–8) ℟. (cf. 2) Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. I lift up my eyes toward the mountains; whence shall help come to me? My help is from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. ℟. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. May he not suffer your foot to slip; may he slumber not who guards you: indeed he neither slumbers nor sleeps, the guardian of Israel. ℟. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The LORD is your guardian; the LORD is your shade; he is beside you at your right hand. The sun shall not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. ℟. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. The LORD will guard you from all evil; he will guard your life. The LORD will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever. ℟. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. SECOND READING One who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy (3:14–4:2) Beloved: Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. The word of the Lord. ALLELUIA (Heb 4:12) ℟. Alleluia, alleluia. The word of God is living and effective, discerning reflections and thoughts of the heart. ℟. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

God will secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him. + A reading from the holy Gospel according to 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?” The Gospel of the Lord.

Homily

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, on the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, the Church gives us a powerful message about perseverance in prayer and trust in God’s justice. Our readings invite us to remain steadfast, even when life feels like a long spiritual battle.

In the first reading from Exodus 17, we hear about Moses holding up his hands during the battle against Amalek. As long as his hands were raised, Israel prevailed. But when he grew weary, Aaron and Hur supported him. This is a striking image of prayer: we do not fight life’s battles alone. When we grow tired, the community of faith lifts us up, and together we prevail because God is our strength.

The Gospel from Luke 18 brings us the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. Jesus teaches us to pray without losing heart. The widow, by her unrelenting persistence, eventually receives justice, not because the judge is good, but because she never gave up. How much more, Jesus tells us, will our loving Father hear the prayers of His children who cry to Him day and night!

Prayer, then, is not about convincing God to act, but about trusting that He will act in His time and in His way. Persistent prayer forms our hearts to rely on His mercy, even when answers are delayed. It keeps our faith alive, like Moses’ hands lifted to heaven.

Today, let us ask ourselves: Do we persevere in prayer, or do we give up when God seems silent? Are we willing to support one another, as Aaron and Hur did, so that no one in our community grows weary in faith?

As we approach the altar, let us bring our petitions with confidence. May we remain steadfast in prayer, trusting that our God is just, merciful, and always faithful.

Amen.