St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Saturday of the Thirty-second week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta : "Pray always without becoming weary"

Reading

Wisdom 18,14-16.19,6-9.
For when peaceful stillness compassed everything and the night in its swift course was half spent, Your all-powerful word from heaven's royal throne bounded, a fierce warrior, into the doomed land, 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. For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew, serving its natural laws, that your children might be preserved unharmed. 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. Over this crossed the whole nation sheltered by your hand, after they beheld stupendous wonders. For they ranged about like horses, and bounded about like lambs, praising you, O LORD! their deliverer.


Ps 105(104),2-3.36-37.42-43.
Sing praise, play music; proclaim all his wondrous deeds! Glory in his holy name; rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD! He struck down every firstborn in the land, the first fruits of all their vigor. He brought his people out, laden with silver and gold; no stragglers among the tribes. For he remembered his sacred word to Abraham his servant. He brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with shouts of triumph.



Lk 18,1-8.
Then he told them 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?"


Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB



Commentary of the day

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), foundress of the Missionary Sisters of Charity A Simple Path

"Pray always without becoming weary"

If you want to set out in search of God without knowing how to go about it, learn to pray: force yourself simply to pray every day. You can pray anywhere, anytime. There's no need at all to be in a chapel or church. You can pray while working: work doesn't put a stop to prayer, nor prayer to work. If you feel in need of help, you can ask advice of a priest or pastor. Try to talk directly to God. Speak to him; tell him everything, spontaneously, directly, just as it comes. He is the Father of us all. Whatever our religion might be, we have all been created by him and are his children. We can trust him, love him, believe in him, work for him. When we pray, our problems are resolved to the degree that it is good for us. Without prayer I could not fulfil the work it is mine to do, not even for half an hour. I draw my strength from God by prayer.