November 14, 2026
Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Readings for Today
The Unjust Judge and the Importunate Widow, by Sir John Everett Millais
“There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ 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.’” Luke 18:2–5
Discouragement often sets in when things don’t turn out as we had hoped. This temptation becomes especially strong when repeated efforts fail to bring the desired outcome. The more discouraged we become, the more likely we are to fall into despair—that is, the loss of hope, which leads to giving up altogether.
In our relationship with God, the spiritual gift of hope is one of the three theological virtues, alongside faith and charity. These three are interdependent. When one is lacking, the others are weakened. When despair takes hold, faith and charity are deeply wounded.
Jesus tells today’s parable “about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.” This is another way of saying that our prayer life must be rooted in the gift of hope. To become weary in prayer is to become discouraged in it.
We grow weary in prayer when we endure trials, beg for God’s help, and perceive only silence in return. But even in that silence, we must learn to see God’s hidden presence. Why is God sometimes silent? One reason may be that our prayer reflects our own will more than His. For example, if someone is ill and we ask for a miracle, God may grant it only if it leads to a greater good. Or if a loved one is applying for a job and doesn’t get it, despite many prayers, it may be that God has something better in store.
This teaches us that prayer should not be a list of requests we hope God will fulfill. Rather, it must be an act of surrender, entrusting both ourselves and our intentions to His providential care, without clinging to any particular outcome. God’s silence, at times, is His answer because it invites deeper trust and surrender during the trial we or others are enduring.
Of course, there are prayers we can be confident always align with God’s will. For instance: “Lord, draw me closer to You, reveal Your perfect will, and grant me the grace to serve You with all my heart.” Such prayers express a heart open to grace and transformation.
Today’s parable focuses not on the content of our petitions, but on the disposition we must bring to prayer—a hopeful trust in God that refuses to give in to discouragement or despair.
In biblical times, a widow was among the most vulnerable members of society, often with no legal protection. A dishonest judge would have had little incentive to respond to her. The judge in this parable did, solely because of her persistence.
If even an unjust judge can yield to persistence, how much more will our loving Father hear our prayers? When He seems silent, He invites us to imitate this widow. Persistent, hope-filled prayer is often more beneficial for our soul than a quick answer. It deepens faith, strengthens charity, and makes us holy. If God seems silent, it is for a good reason, the best reason; the longer His silence, the deeper our trust and hope must become.
Reflect today on the importance of unwavering prayer rooted in hope. Let God’s silence be an invitation to deeper surrender. Trust that even in silence, He is at work in ways far beyond what we can perceive. Never give up, never doubt, and never despair. God always hears us and answers our prayers according to His perfect will, which is far greater than anything we might believe is best for us or others.
My providential Lord, You always hear our prayers and desire to pour out upon us an abundance of grace, far more than we even desire to receive. Grant me a heart steadfast in prayer, never giving in to doubt, discouragement, or despair. May I always hope in You, especially when trials endure. Let those moments draw me into deeper surrender to Your perfect will. Jesus, I trust in You.
Novena to Christ the King
Traditionally Nine Days Prior to the Solemnity of Christ the King
Novena prayed daily from November 13–21, 2026
Scripture Meditations for Ordinary Time
