🙏 OPENING PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
as we come before You today, open our hearts to receive Your Word.
Through Your Holy Spirit, help us to grow in faith, perseverance, and trust.
Teach us to live as faithful disciples who do not lose hope when trials come,
but remain patient and steadfast in Your love.
Grant that we may recognize Your presence in every moment of our lives.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
📖 FIRST READING
Wisdom 18:14–16; 19:6–9
Source: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/wisdom/18
*14 For while gentle silence enveloped all things,
and night in its swift course was now half gone,
15 your all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal throne,
a stern warrior into the midst of the land that was doomed,16 bearing the sharp sword of your authentic command,
and stood and filled all things with death,
and touched heaven while standing on the earth.*19:6 For the whole creation in its nature was fashioned anew,
serving your commands, that your children might be kept unharmed.7 The cloud was seen overshadowing the camp,
and dry land emerging where water had stood before,
an unhindered way out of the Red Sea,
and a grassy plain out of the raging waves.8 Where those protected by your hand passed through as one nation,
beholding marvelous wonders.9 For they ranged like horses and leaped like lambs,
praising you, O Lord, who delivered them.
✨ Explanation
The reading poetically recounts God’s saving power in the Exodus:
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“Your all-powerful Word leaped from heaven” (18:15) foreshadows Christ, the Word made flesh.
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The passage shows that God is not distant—He enters human history to save.
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Creation itself responds to God’s saving will (19:6), showing His absolute sovereignty.
📘 CCC References
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CCC 332 – Angels participate in God’s saving missions.
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CCC 331 & 430 – The “Word” as the divine Son working salvation.
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CCC 205–221 – God acts in history to save His people.
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CCC 308 – Creation obeys God’s providence and moves according to His plan.
🟦 Application
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Trust that God still acts in your life even when things seem silent.
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Remember past blessings—God saved Israel, and He still saves us from despair, sin, and fear.
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When life feels chaotic, recall that creation itself bends to God’s saving love.
📖 RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 105:2–3, 36–37, 42–43
Response: Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him,
tell of all his wonderful works!3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land,
the first issue of all their strength.37 He brought Israel out with silver and gold,
and there was none among his tribes who stumbled.42 For he remembered his holy promise,
and Abraham his servant.43 So he led his people forth with joy,
his chosen ones with singing.
✨ Explanation
The psalm celebrates God’s faithfulness and His covenant love.
It invites us to:
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Remember what God has done
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Praise Him for His faithfulness
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Rejoice in being His people
📘 CCC References
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CCC 2569 – Prayer founded on remembering God's works.
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CCC 2570–2572 – God’s faithful covenant with Abraham.
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CCC 2110–2111 – Worship and adoration belong to God alone.
🟦 Application
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Develop a habit of praising God daily.
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Write down “marvels” or blessings He has done in your life.
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Allow gratitude to strengthen your faith in times of trial.
📖 GOSPEL
Luke 18:1–8 — The Parable of the Persistent Widow
Source: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/18
1 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man.”
3 “And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Vindicate me against my adversary.’”
4 “For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor regard man,
5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”
6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says.”
7 “And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?”
8 “I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
✨ Explanation
Jesus teaches persistence in prayer:
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The widow represents all who seem powerless but trust God.
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The unjust judge contrasts with God—if even he responds, how much more will God?
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Jesus asks a powerful question:
“Will He find faith on earth?” – meaning: will we persevere to the end?
📘 CCC References
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CCC 2613 – Jesus uses this parable to teach perseverance in prayer.
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CCC 2742–2745 – Pray without ceasing.
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CCC 162, 1821 – Perseverance in faith is necessary for salvation.
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CCC 2090–2092 – Hope, confidence in God fulfilling His promises.
🟦 Application
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Do not stop praying—even when God seems silent.
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Bring your needs, worries, and struggles daily to God.
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Trust His timing; persistence forms the heart and strengthens faith.
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Ask yourself: Do I persevere when prayer takes long?
🙏 CLOSING PRAYER
Lord Jesus,
teach us to pray without losing heart.
Give us the persistence of the widow,
the courage to trust even when we do not see immediate answers,
and the hope to believe in Your perfect timing.
Strengthen our faith so that when You come again,
You may find our hearts steadfast and full of love.
Keep us faithful disciples who walk in Your light.
We ask this in Your holy name. Amen.
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