Entries

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

October 19, 2025

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S.

Introit

Collect

Almighty ever-living God,
grant that we may always conform our will to yours
and serve your majesty in sincerity of heart.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading Ex 17:8-13

Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some men for us and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 Whenever Moses held up his hands, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the sun set. 13 And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the sword.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R/. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Second Reading 2 Tm 3:14-4:2

Continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. 1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching.

Acclamation before the Gospel Heb 4:12

Gospel Lk 18:1-8

Jesus told the disciples a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4 “For a while the judge refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 Will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, God will quickly grant justice to them. “And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Catena Nova

People who don’t unite themselves to God through prayer cut themselves off from God! The first thing we have to learn from God’s Word, then, is our need to pray continually. We must not lose heart! Prayer brings us close to God and when we’re close to God we’re far from The Enemy. Prayer is the safeguard of chastity; it controls anger, and it restrains arrogance. It is the seal of virginity, the assurance of marital fidelity, and the shield of travelers. It protects us while we sleep and encourages us if we keep vigil. It brings the farmer a good harvest and keeps sailors safe. I think that even if we spent our entire lives in communion with God through thanksgiving and prayer we would still be far from having repaid adequately our God and Benefactor as we should. (St. Gregory of Nyssa)

Do not be upset if you do not immediately receive what you asked God to give you. The Lord wants to give you greater things than you have even thought to pray for – to teach you to persevere in prayer. (Evagrius Ponticus)

Pray, even if you feel nothing, see nothing. For when you are dry, empty, sick or weak, at such a time is your prayer most pleasing to God, even though you may find little joy in it. This is true of all believing prayer. (Julian of Norwich)

Gently recall your mind when it wanders . . . unceasingly gather up again your scattered spirit. Turn your inward eye once more towards Him . . . persevere with an unconquered heart. (St. Teresa of Avila)

Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason: God often desires to see what love your soul has, and love is not tried by ease and satisfaction. (St. John of the Cross)

Perseverance is the most desirable gift we can hope for in this life, and the one which…we cannot have but from the hand of God, who alone can assure him that stands, and help him up that falls.Therefore we must incessantly demand it, making use of the means which Our Savior has taught us to the obtaining of it: prayer, fasting, alms-deeds, frequenting the sacraments, intercourse with the good, the hearing and reading of holy words. (St. Francis de Sales)

In prayer one must hold fast and never let go, because the one who gives up loses all. If it seems that no one is listening to you, then cry out even louder. If you are driven out of one door, go back in by the other. (St. Jane Frances de Chantal)

Homily

"There are none so blind as though who will not see." It's just as true, "There are none so deaf as those who will not hear." Or like the judge in today's gospel, would prefer some voices go away. In recent weeks, Pope Leo has said a few things to Catholics who are hard of hearing when it comes to teachings that don't set well in their political circles.

Caught in a "gotcha moment" by a reporter from a Catholic media empire in the United States known to be very much at home in said circles, the pontiff was asked to weigh in on a controversy in his home country. In widely reported comments, the Holy Father said:

I understand the difficulty and the tensions. But I think as I myself have spoken in the past, it’s important to look at many issues that are related to the teachings of the Church. Someone who says I’m against abortion but says I’m in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life. Someone who says I’m against abortion but I’m in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants who are in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro life. So they are very complex issues, I don’t know if anyone has all the truth on them, but I would ask first and foremost that there’d be greater respect for one another, and that we search together both as human beings—in that case as American citizens and citizens of the state of Illinois—as well as Catholics, to say that we need really look closely at all of these ethical issues. And to find the way forward as a Church. The Church teaching on each one of those issues is very clear.

Such was an unprepared, impromptu, response when caught off guard. Then followed his first papal teaching that carries the weight of the ordinary, papal, magisterium — an apostolic exhortation begun by Pope Francis which Leo completed by adding his own reflections. In this document entitled, Dilexit te ("I have loved you") the pope rehearses the church's historic and contemporary concern for the poor from the actions of numerous saints, to the developing social teaching of the church which addresses the structural causes of poverty, to the every day actions of believers such as almsgiving. Among my favorite passages are the following:

Where the world sees threats, she (the Church) sees children; where walls are built, she builds bridges. She knows that her proclamation of the Gospel is credible only when it is translated into gestures of closeness and welcome. And she knows that in every rejected migrant, it is Christ himself who knocks at the door of the community (75).

Christian love breaks down every barrier, brings close those who were distant, unites strangers, and reconciles enemies. It spans chasms that are humanly impossible to bridge and it penetrates to the most hidden crevices of society. By its very nature, Christian love is prophetic: it works miracles and knows no limits. It makes what was apparently impossible happen. Love is above all a way of looking at life and a way of living it. A Church that sets no limits to love, that knows no enemies to fight but only men and women to love, is the Church that the world needs today (20).

We will see what kind go hearing this gets in the United States among those who had little use for Pope Francis' constant appeals on behalf of the victims of greed and indifference. One social media post I saw has decried Leo for being the "woke Pope" - a facile and largely meaningless political catchphrase.

By the way, there's another voice I suppose will also fail to get much of a hearing. It's from an unlikely source now on the New York Times best seller list — a book called Separation of Church and Hate. The author, John Fugelsang, is the son of parents who were at one time members of Catholic religious orders. The book has been described as "a deeply irreverent and biblically correct takedown of far-right Christian hatred—a book for believers, atheists, agnostics, and anyone who’ll ever have to deal with a Christian nationalist." The publisher's blurb goes on to say,

For more than two centuries, the United States Constitution has given us the right to a society where church and state exist independently. But Christianity has been hijacked by far-right groups and politicians who seek to impose their narrow views on government, often to justify oppressive and unequal policies. The extremists who weaponize the Bible for earthly power aren’t actually on the side of Jesus—and historically they never have been. How do we fight back against those acting—literally—in bad faith?

But Fugelsang’s message is about more than just taking down hypocrites. It’s about fighting for the love, mercy, and service that are supposed to make up the heart of Christianity…. It’s a rallying cry for compassion and clarity for anyone of any faith who’s sick of religion being used as a cloaking device for hate.

So whether it's from the pope or from a non-practicing Catholic, the words of Paul to Timothy still echo: Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching (II). Hopefully, the message will get through for will not God secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily (G). If we're listening.

Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Web Site)

For the Church: that we may be persistent in prayer and attentive to God’s invitations to greater discipleship.

For a greater love of the Scriptures: that our hearts may desire to hear and learn God’s Word and be open to the insights it offers.

For all who have no voice or standing in society: that we may be aware of all who are forgotten by society and raise their needs and aspirations before others.

For all judges and attorneys: that God will guide their work so that justice may be served and the injured assisted.

For all who are growing weary in seeking justice and for all who are working to assist them: that the Holy Spirit will give them strength and help them to persevere.

For all who are caught in desperate situations, for refugees, and for those struggling with addictions: that God will hear their cries, bring them to freedom and help them begin a new life.

For all who are recovering from natural disasters: that God will strengthen them, renew their spirits and guide them in restoring their lives.

For peace, especially in Ukraine: that God will turn the hearts of world leaders from violence and help them to take bold steps to promote peace and provide for the safety of the innocent.

Lord, tireless guardian of your people, always ready to hear the cries of your chosen ones, teach us to rely, day and night, on your care. Support our prayer lest we grow weary. Impel us to seek your enduring justice and your ever-present help. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen (ICEL; 1998)

Offertory Antiphon

Offertory Hymn

Confronted with destruction sure In conflict dire with Amalek, God’s servant climbed the hill, There to survey his people’s trek; And interceding without cease, He pleaded with his people’s God. The battle turned as sun went down, The foeman beat into the sod.

Like unto this, a widow came, And justice sought from the wicked judge, Who neither God nor neighbor feared; With ev’ry day, the little drudge, From woman’s brave and fearless chore, Of pleading, begging, wore him down. To her was given justice due, Although he did it with a frown.

Though time and circumstance combine, Increasing each oppressive weight, Our recompense from God will come, With justice sure, and not be late. Be faithful, then, to what you’ve learned, By means of Scripture’s witness strong. Preach now the Word—day in, day out— “The Lord will come” must be our song!

Communion Antiphon

Closing Hymn

Lord, thy Word abideth,
and our footsteps guideth;
who its truth believeth
light and joy receiveth.

When our foes are near us,
then thy Word doth cheer us,
Word of consolation,
message of salvation.

When the storms are o'er us,
and dark clouds before us,
then its light directeth,
and our way protecteth.

Who can tell the pleasure,
who recount the treasure,
by thy Word imparted
to the simple-hearted?

Word of mercy, giving
succor to the living;
word of life, supplying
comfort to the dying!

O that we, discerning,
its most holy learning,
Lord, may love and fear thee,
evermore be near thee!

Archives