29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C) – Justice Through Mercy

In our parable for today, we have the witness of a widow who came to a dishonest judge and continuously begged him for a just judgment. Though the judge did not care about the woman, he eventually rendered a just decision for her because she was so persistent. It’s interesting that Jesus used the image of a “dishonest judge” to teach us about persistent prayers being answered. He does so because He wants us to understand that if even those who are dishonest respond to persistence, then so much more will the Just Judge of Heaven respond to persistence. Will God answer any prayer you pray if you offer that prayer day and night, day after day without fail? Does God eventually give into our requests as a parent might give into a child who keeps begging for something? Not exactly. One of the most important qualifiers mentioned in this parable is the word “just.” We read that the woman’s plea before the judge was, “render a just decision for me…” At the conclusion of the parable, Jesus gives this interpretation: “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?” When we pray, we ought not pray for whatever we want. We ought not pray for our preference, selfish desires, or our own ideas. We must pray only for the justice of God. When we do so with unwavering perseverance, God will secure our rights and bring forth His justice.

OPEN YOUR BIBLE (4) – Elijah at Horeb: A Journey from Passion to Silence

Queen Jezebel, wife of King Ahab and a Phoenician worshiper of Baal, sent a messenger to Elijah, threatening his life. Elijah had confronted 450 prophets of Baal and executed them after God answered his prayer by sending fire from heaven to consume the offering he had prepared on the altar (1 K 18:37–40). Following this divine intervention, the Lord ended the drought by sending rain. Despite the powerful demonstration, when Elijah learned his life was in danger, he fled in fear into the wilderness. There, he pleaded with the Lord to take his life, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers” (1 K 19:4). He lay down under a solitary broom tree and slept. Then, an angel of the Lord touched him and said, “Arise and eat.” He found bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water. After eating and resting, the angel returned and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you” (1 K 19:5–7).

A CALL FOR ETHICAL AND EMPATHETIC LEADERSHIP – The Interventive Role of the Catholic Church in Indonesia

In an interview with the Fides news agency, Father Agustinus Purnama, a 70-year-old Indonesian priest and Superior General of the Missionaries of the Holy Family (MSF) in the province of Java, considers legitimate the expectations of young Indonesians, who are leading the current wave of rebellion spreading across different regions of the archipelago. They demand transparency, work, development, good politics, and a future. “The problem is that they are being exploited for other purposes”, concludes Father Purnama, who is nearing the end of his six-year term as Superior (2019-2025).

TREASURE OF SACRED ART OF SAINT JOSEPH’S SEMINARY – Macau Diocese Ponders the Creation of a New Exhibition Space

Nearly nine years after opening its doors, the Treasure of Sacred Art of Saint Joseph’s Seminary closed for good in mid-September, as requested by the Catholic Diocese of Macau. The local Church cites the need to repurpose the project’s amenities as a justification for the decision. The facilities will be used both by the newly-founded Catholic Institute of Theology in Macau and by Saint Joseph’s Diocesan School. 

EVANGELIZATION OF THE “HILL TRIBES” – Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions in Thailand

On the occasion of the World Missionary Jubilee, Italian Father Claudio Corti, a missionary with the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) in Thailand, spoke to the Fides news agency. He expressed his astonishment at the number of people who have recently converted to Catholicism and requested baptism. In this predominantly Buddhist country, where Christians are clearly in the minority, it is not uncommon to hear about Jesus Christ… Whether because one attended a Christian school, or met a Catholic coworker or friend, or because one was impressed by the imposing churches during a trip abroad, “especially in Europe.” And when one of these people approaches Father Corti – who has lived in Thailand since 1999 – asking if he can convert them to Christianity and baptize them, the prelate notes that “they take their faith very seriously.” The decision to convert to Catholicism radically changes one’s life. For example, “the experience of forgiveness, which one receives from God and offers to one’s enemy, is an extraordinary moment. And from that moment on, this person begins to live not only for themselves, but for their fellow human beings.”

Macau Children Offer Up Prayers for World Peace

At least 15 children and youth from the Portuguese-speaking Catholic community of the Sé Cathedral parish joined, earlier this week, thousands of children from around the world to pray for peace. The Catholic Diocese of Macau joined the “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” campaign, organized by the Aid to the Church in Need Pontifical Foundation, for the fourth consecutive year. 

OPEN YOUR BIBLE (2) – Elijah, the prototype of a Prophet (1 Kings 17:1-6)

Although the prophet Elijah did not author any biblical book, I chose to begin by presenting him as a model of prophetic ministry. Elijah is often compared to Moses, who is regarded as one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament. Significantly, both Elijah and Moses appear together on Mount Tabor during Jesus’ transfiguration, symbolizing the continuity between the Law and the Prophets.