Saturday memorial of the Blessed
Virgin Mary
Saint Albert the Great, Bishop, Doctor
Psalter: Week IV
Green
He was born in Germany and joined the Dominican Order. He taught in a number of places including the University of Paris, where St Thomas Aquinas studied under him. He was one of the greatest philosophers of the Middle Ages. He made great efforts to secure peace between people and between cities. He died at Cologne in 1280.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 87: 3
Let my prayer come into your presence. Incline your ear to my cry for help, O Lord.
Collect
Almighty and merciful God, graciously keep from us all adversity, so that, unhindered in mind and body alike, we may pursue in freedom of heart the things that are yours. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Wisdom 18:14-16,19:6-9
When peaceful silence lay over all, and night had run the half of her swift course, down from the heavens, from the royal throne, leapt your all-powerful Word; into the heart of a doomed land the stern warrior leapt. Carrying your unambiguous command like a sharp sword, he stood, and filled the universe with death; he touched the sky, yet trod the earth. For, to keep your children from all harm, the whole creation, obedient to your commands, was once more, and newly, fashioned in its nature. Overshadowing the camp there was the cloud, where water had been, dry land was seen to rise, the Red Sea became an unimpeded way, the tempestuous flood a green plain; sheltered by your hand, the whole nation passed across, gazing at these amazing miracles. They were like horses at pasture, they skipped like lambs, singing your praises, Lord, their deliverer.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 104(105):2-3,36-37,42-43
R/ Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
O sing to him, sing his praise; tell all his wonderful works! Be proud of his holy name, let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
He struck all the first-born in their land, the finest flower of their sons. He led out Israel with silver and gold. In his tribes were none who fell behind.
For he remembered his holy word, which he gave to Abraham his servant. So he brought out his people with joy, his chosen ones with shouts of rejoicing.
Gospel Acclamation : Jm1:21
Alleluia, alleluia! Accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you and can save your souls. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.”’ And the Lord said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’
Prayer over the Offerings
Look with favour, we pray, O Lord, upon the sacrificial gifts offered here, that, celebrating in mystery the Passion of your Son, we may honour it with loving devotion. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 22: 1-2
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose, near restful waters he leads me.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished by this sacred gift, O Lord, we give you thanks and beseech your mercy, that, by the pouring forth of your Spirit, the grace of integrity may endure in those your heavenly power has entered. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Through the parable of the widow and the unjust judge in today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us a profound lesson on the significance of persistent prayer. He emphasises the importance of never giving up, even when there is no immediate answer. God, being loving and merciful, wants to answer our prayers. However, there are times when He delays to test our faith and teach us patience. Persistent prayer means praying without ceasing while applying the PUSH Formula (Pray Until Something Happens). God is always ready to answer our prayers. This approach is not about pressuring God but it is about immersing oneself in God. It urges us to avoid treating God like a quick fix. It is not praying for the sake of praying. We are confident in his words: “Call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you…” (Psalm 50:15); “Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). The parable illustrates that if a widow can receive justice from a wicked judge through her persistence, how much more can we expect blessings of mercy and grace from our loving Father? Let us not lose heart. Galatians 6:9 encourages us: “…for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Persistent prayer entails keeping our requests before God as we live for Him daily, believing that He will answer.