Daily Readings for November 18, 2017

Dedication of the Churches of Sts.Peter and Paul, Apostles

1ST READING

  

God is the Master of all that He has created. This is evident in the miracles He works, both in the New and Old Testaments. God is not bound by the laws of nature, but we are. God is free to do what He wants as He is the Creator of all, but we are not. Sin is rebellion against God. When we sin, we seek to appropriate His authority and powers to ourselves. The only way to overcome this is through humility — by readily accepting that God is God and we are not.

Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9

14 When peaceful stillness compassed everything and the night in its swift course was half spent, 15 Your all-powerful word, from heaven’s royal throne bounded, a fierce warrior, into the doomed land, 16 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. 19:6 For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew, serving its natural laws, that your children might be preserved unharmed. 7 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. 8 Over this crossed the whole nation sheltered by your hand, after they beheld stupendous wonders. 9 For they ranged about like horses, and bounded about like lambs, praising you, O Lord! Their deliverer.

P S A L M

Psalm 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43

R: Remember the marvels the Lord has done!

2 Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds. 3 Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord! (R) 36 Then he struck every first-born throughout their land, the first fruits of all their manhood. 37 And he led them forth laden with silver and gold, with not a weakling among their tribes. (R) 42 For he remembered his holy word to his servant Abraham. 43 And he led forth his people with joy; with shouts of joy, his chosen ones. (R)

GOSPEL

Sometimes, God allows us to wait a long time before answering our prayers. He knows the best timing for the answer to our prayers. He knows what we need the most. We simply have to learn to trust in His judgment and persevere in our prayers. Good things come to those who wait upon the Lord.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

God has called us through the Gospel, to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 18:1-8

1 Jesus told his disciples 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?”