Blessed Virgin Mary  /  St. Margaret of Scotland, queen 

St. Gertrude the Great, virgin 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

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

While all was in quiet silence and the night was in the middle of its course,

 your almighty Word leapt down from the Royal Throne – a stern warrior to a doomed world.   Carrying your fearful command like a sharpened sword and stretching from heaven to earth, he filled the universe with death.

All creation in its different forms was fashioned anew at your command, in order to pro­tect your people.  The cloud covered the camp with its shadow, dry land emerged where water had been.

A safe passage was opened through the Red Sea, the tempestuous flood became a green plain where the whole nation of those protected by your hand passed across, witnessing your astounding deeds.

 They were like horses led to pasture, or like frolicking lambs, praising you, their Lord, who had delivered them.

 

Ps   105  Remember the marvels the Lord has done!

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 18: 1-8

 Jesus told them a parable to show them that they should pray con­tinually and not lose heart.  He said, “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor people.   In the same town was a widow who kept coming to him, saying: ‘Defend my rights against my adversary!

 For a time he refused, but finally he thought: ‘Even though I neither fear God nor care about people,   this widow bothers me so much I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing me out.”

 And Jesus said, “Listen to what the evil judge says.  Will God not do justice for his chosen ones who cry to him day and night even if he delays in answering them?  I tell you, he will speedily do them justice. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

 

Gospel Reflection：

“WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMES. WILL HE FIND FAITH ON EARTH?”

A long time ago, there was a mountain that stood majestic on a vast plan where people lived. One day, the people heard a deep rumble from within the mountain followed by a violent shaking that seemed to breaK the mountain apart. It created a panic.

To the people watching, it was as if some monstrous giant was about to emerge out of it. Then there was a sharp convulsive tremor after which the mountain subsided into silence and, to everyone’s surprise, a mouse came out of it.

I’m sure we have heard of the English expression “labor and bring forth a mouse” The above anecdote is where it came from. This expression means with much effort we accomplish so little. This is something like we work hard for one thing and then it turned out to be a waste.

But this is not so with God. when we exert effort in prayer, we accomplish more. So the lesson of the gospel today is don’t stop, don’t quit, and pray harder. God does not snub a persevering prayer. The young ones today also have a way of saying this: Pray Until Something Happens-PUSH!