17 Nov
Sat 		St Elizabeth of Hungary, religious
Wis. 18:14-16, 19:6-9
Ps. 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43
Lk. 18:1-8
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The readings remind us that God hears and responds to those who cry out with persistence and faith. The first reading mentions the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. Their cries for freedom bore fruit in deliverance from Slavery. Despite their hardship they remained steadfast in their pleas and were heard for it.

The same message is expressed in the gospel where Jesus uses the story of the persistent woman who eventually wore down the judge. Our call is to cry out to God with equal persistence. We too are given the assurance and promise that our labours and prayers are not in vain. God does hear us and will respond.

In our wisdom we may wonder why God allows certain things to continue. Yet our faith must open us to the wisdom of God and so help us to remain steadfast in our beliefs and actions.


Lord, help me to persevere in Your love always.

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That holy and exemplary men and women may be our companions in proclaiming boldly the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Elaboration

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P R A Y I N G    W I T H    T H E    C H U R C H    

INTENTION : That holy and exemplary men and women may be our companions in proclaiming boldly the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

"They began to proclaim the word of God boldly" (Acts 4:31). The word "boldly" can also be translated as "audaciously" or with "forthrightness" in announcing the Christian message. The ideal agents of evangelisation should be "holy and exemplary persons". Though God could have spread His Kingdom without human collaboration, He has always sought human partners, who as suitable and free instruments, work for the salvation of humankind.

The laity can evangelise chiefly through prayer, the testimony of life and the establishment of a temporal order inspired by the Gospel. Though preaching the Gospel is the competence and principal duty of those who have been ordained, lay people, who have the necessary theological training, can preach.

Vatican II stresses the need for priests to be holy preachers. God ordinarily prefers to show his wonders through those men who are more submissive to the impulse and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because of their intimate union with Christ and their holiness of life, they are able to say with St Paul: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Gal. 2:20). Let us therefore pray that all those who devote themselves directly to evangelisation may live a holy life that emphasises the credibility of the Christian message.



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