Daily Readings for November 17, 2018

1st READING

Today is the feast day of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, a royal who truly cared for her subjects. She gave medical care to the sick and dying, fed the hungry, and helped the unemployed. She is an example for rulers, leaders of countries, and the rich on how wealth and power can be used to benefit those in need.

3 John 5-8

5 Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers and sisters, especially for strangers; 6 they have testified to your love before the Church. Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey. 7 For they have set out for the sake of the Name and are accepting nothing from the pagans. 8 Therefore, we ought to support such persons, so that we may be co-workers in the truth.

P S A L M 

Psalm 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

R: Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

1 Blessed the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands. 2 His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. (R) 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house; his generosity shall endure forever. 4 Light shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and just. (R) 5 Well for the man who is gracious and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; 6 he shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance. (R)

GOSPEL 

The judiciary needs to reflect on the way they dispense justice. The judiciary must respect the rights of the individual involved in a case and give a just and fair sentence with a dose of mercy. The powerful few have the capacity to effect the most change in any society. On Judgment Day, they will be called to give an account of how they used their influence to help others.

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?”