Daily Gospel Reflection for November 18, 2023

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Kerri Baunach

Today's Gospel: Luke 18:1-18

Do you have faith? Specifically, do you have the kind of faith Jesus is speaking of at the end of today’s Gospel? I find Jesus’ final question intriguing:

“But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

If Jesus came back today, what kind of faith would He find? I think He would find many who have faith in themselves. Many will claim to put their faith in science alone. Still others will have faith only in other human persons or institutions. This is not the kind of faith Jesus is hoping to find.

I believe Jesus is looking for the kind of deep, personal, total faith in our God in heaven, our Father who loves us and wants good things for us. Unlike the judge in today’s Gospel, God wants to provide us with our just needs. He knows what we need, probably better than we do, and wants to confer those gifts on us. All we need is faith in this all-loving, all-good God.

It’s harder than it seems. One thing I have learned during my journey is that prayer is of utmost importance in forming my faith. Just as the woman in today’s story perseveres in asking the judge for a just decision, we need to persevere in prayer. But I also believe that we don’t need to ask God specifically for our needs. Certainly we can, and should, but I believe that first and foremost our prayer should be an act of adoration and done in humility. When we offer God all our praise and adoration, we grow closer to Him and His will for us. Ultimately what matters is following God’s will for our lives and building up our faith in Him alone.

Ponder:

Is there a teaching of the Church with which you struggle and it undermines your faith? If so, in all humility, bring that struggle to God and pray about it.

Pray:

Good and gracious God, we praise You and we love You. Please help us to follow Your Word in humility and to set aside our ways for Yours.

Click to tweet:
We don’t need to ask God specifically for our needs. Certainly we can, and should, but I believe that first and foremost our prayer should be an act of adoration and done in humility. #DailyGospel

Copyright 2023 Kerri Baunach

Kerri Baunach lives in Lexington, KY, with her husband and three boys. She’s a Benedictine Oblate with the Archabbey of St. Meinrad in Indiana, attends the Traditional Latin Mass, and has written on her own, now-abandoned, blog; for Catholic Sistas; and many Gospel Reflections for Catholic Mom.