From the responsorial psalm: "Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed. Blessed the man who fears the Lord."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 18:1-8)

"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?"

In the parable of the persistent widow, Jesus emphasizes the importance of persevering in prayer. Jesus uses the example of a dishonest judge who is initially indifferent but ultimately grants the widow justice because of her constant pleading. This illustrates that even if God seems slow to respond, our persistent prayer will eventually be answered by our loving Father. The parable concludes with a question about the strength of our faith in our experience of God's justice and mercy. "But when the Son of Man comes," Jesus says, "will he find faith on earth?”

God, help me see what today's Gospel and psalm reveal about your justice and its work in the lives of those who act justly. To pray always and not become weary requires persistence and faith in your justice and mercy. “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says," Jesus tells the disciples. As I recognize the limitations of human justice, give me the grace to depend more strongly on you for my daily needs and for the constant need of my soul, which seeks union with you whether or not it recognizes that. As Saint Gertrude did, let me be thankful, Lord, for your mercy in preparing me to know the infinite mystery of your justice manifested through the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ your Son. Saint Gertrude, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.