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Today, 6th of December, we celebrate
Saint Nicholas
Brothers and sisters:
I rejoice greatly in the Lord
that now at last you revived your concern for me.
You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity.
Not that I say this because of need,
for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself,
to be self-sufficient.
I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances;
I know also how to live with abundance.
In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,
of living in abundance and of being in need.
I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.
You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the Gospel,
when I left Macedonia,
not a single church shared with me
in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone.
For even when I was at Thessalonica
you sent me something for my needs,
not only once but more than once.
It is not that I am eager for the gift;
rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account.
I have received full payment and I abound.
I am very well supplied because of what I received from you
through Epaphroditus,
“a fragrant aroma,” an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
R./ Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or: Alleluia.
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.
R./ Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or: Alleluia.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R./ Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
or: Alleluia.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R./ Blessed the man who fears the Lord.
Jesus said to his disciples, "And so I tell you: use filthy money to make friends for yourselves, so that when it fails, these people may welcome you into the eternal homes.
"Whoever can be trusted in little things can also be trusted in great ones; whoever is dishonest in slight matters will also be dishonest in greater ones. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling filthy money, who could entrust you with true wealth? And if you have not been trustworthy with things that are not really yours, who will give you the wealth which is your own?
"No servant can serve two masters. Either he does not like the one and is fond of the other, or he regards one highly and the other with contempt. You cannot give yourself both to God and to Money."
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and sneered at Jesus. He said to them, "You do your best to be considered righteous by people. But God knows the heart, and what rises high among humans is loathed by God."
In today’s Gospel, Jesus illustrates, through the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge, that our prayer life requires faithfulness and trust, even when answers are delayed or unclear. Jesus assures us that God, who is infinitely just and loving, hears the cries of His people. This message encourages us not to lose heart, no matter how long we wait or how difficult our circumstances are.
Luke’s Gospel emphasises the centrality of prayer in Jesus’ life. Luke presents Jesus as someone constantly turning to God, whether in solitude or in moments of decision, gratitude, or agony. This is a reminder that prayer is not only about asking for things but about staying in communion with God, allowing His presence to shape our actions and thoughts.
The parable reminds us that the power of prayer is not in external results but in our alignment with God’s will and our openness to His timing. We may not always see immediate answers, but prayer keeps us grounded in faith and hope, trusting that God is working, even in unseen ways. Prayer, then, becomes less about asking and receiving and more about living in awareness of God’s loving presence in every moment of our lives.
This teaching challenges us to see people and situations through a lens of patience, resilience, and compassion. As we persist in prayer, we grow in our ability to persevere in love, just as the widow persevered in her pursuit of justice. Jesus’ example shows us that real prayer transforms us, enabling us to live in deeper harmony with God and each other.
Do you know someone who doesn’t “know” the traditional prayers but speaks with God throughout the day? How does their way of relating to God inspire you?
Jose (bibleclaret.org)This short excerpt from the Third letter of John recognizes with gratitude that the community leader Gaius showed hospitality and gave help to itinerant preachers of the gospel.
Luke must have had in mind those who pray and think that God does not act when they beg him. There is also an eschatological tone in the words of Jesus, that the delay in the coming of the kingdom should not discourage us. In any case, our prayer should be trustful and insistent.
Lord our God,
we know that you are our loving Father,
that you wait for us
and that you are attentive to us
every moment of our lives.
Let then our prayer come to you
as a breath of hope and a cry of trust
coming from the poverty of our hearts.
If you have to turn us down
when we ask for harmful or useless things,
give us what we really need
and keep our trust alive
that you are good and loving
for you love us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Intercessions
– For ministers in the Church, that they may be men and women of prayer mindful of the Lord’s words, “Without me you can do nothing,” we pray:
– For all who seek God, that they may enter into a dialogue with God by praying from the heart how they can live their Christian life, we pray:
- For all Christians, that our prayers for the poor and the suffering may commit them more to bringing them justice, lightening their burdens and restoring their dignity, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,
you cannot resist our prayer
if we have full trust in you.
Let the Holy Spirit here among us
prompt us to pray trustingly and insistently.
Let him cry out in our hearts
and call you our Father.
through him who offers himself and us to you,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
with Jesus we have raised our hands
in prayer to you, our living God.
With Jesus we keep trusting in you.
Hear us, then, even in our pains and struggles,
when we are disappointed and grope in the dark.
For we believe that you love us
and want us to find happiness
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
We should keep in mind that prayer is not just asking for favors for each of us personally but, aside from praise and thanks to God, intercession for the good of others in the community. That is another reason why it should be insistent! May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
