Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

When the Son of Man Comes Will He Find Faith on Earth?

Outline

I have read any number of books on prayer

Oh, yes, they often say that prayer changes things

And that prayer works miracles

I even know of a controlled study in a hospital in which prayer with the laying on of hands was proved more effective than laying on of hands without prayer

But the effectiveness of prayer is a big reason for mockery of and turning from the faith

Our difficult parable gives us some of the issues

Many are offended that Jesus used an unjust judge, but the form of the parable is qal we homer and the comparison fits the form

In the parable the woman remains constant - she knows that she has a just cause and that this judge has the only solution, so she comes and comes patiently waiting until he is finally ready to act

In the parable the judge for some reason does not want to act, but eventually does because it has come to the point that he sees only disadvantage for himself - the time is ripe

(Now there are many questions that we want to raise, but recognize this is a parable and it only makes the author’s point)

The point is that God is just and is concerned about human beings, therefore "he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily”

But that is the rub - he is God and not a human with a different perspective on justice and on time

He cares for the unjust judge as well as for the widow and will want to bring the one to repentance while growing the trust of the other

He sees all things as interlinked across time and space, only some of which we see in the interlinked nature of the physical world, so his “speedily” is the time when the best is done for all

And he realizes, as expressed in the final book of the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, that some things are only repaired when “Your all-powerful word from heaven’s royal throne leapt into the doomed land, . . .

and touched heaven, while standing upon the earth.”

And that, 2 Peter 3 says, is delayed until all possible are saved.

Sisters, I just finished reading C S Lewis’ Perelandra

in which unspeakable evil is succeeded by a lyrical portrayal of the great harmony of the universe that includes not just the consummation of the healing of the earth but of the harmonizing of the universe as well.

I felt as if I had had an insight into “deep heaven” and could trust God longer and when in deeper trouble

God makes all things new, but he does not reveal to us the timing

We can look into the past and see his hand at work, so we are assured of the future

Yet with having all this, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Readings

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.

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.

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

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2021 | ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY OF THE THIRTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 1 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

On the same date: Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, 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

GREEN or WHITE for St Frances Xavier Cabrini