Saturday, November 14, 2026 — Saturday of the Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
Pray always, without becoming weary
Luke 18:1-8
Readings of the day: First Reading: 3 John 5-8; Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Gospel Acclamation: 2 Thessalonians 2:14; Gospel: Luke 18:1-8.
The Gospel
Jesus tells a parable about the need to pray always without becoming weary. A widow keeps coming to an unjust judge who neither fears God nor respects any human being, until he gives her justice to be rid of her. “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? ... But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Reflection
The widow has nothing but persistence, and persistence wins even from an unjust judge. How much more will the Father, the fountain of justice and mercy, answer those who cry to him day and night? St. Theophylact notes that after speaking of the trials and dangers to come, the Lord gives at once their remedy: constant and earnest prayer. St. Augustine adds that when faith fails, prayer dies; to pray we must have faith, and that our faith fail not, we must pray. Prayer and faith feed each other. The parable ends with a question that is also an examination: when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? Let him find us praying.
From the Fathers
“Our Lord having spoken of the trials and dangers which were coming, adds immediately afterward their remedy, namely, constant and earnest prayer.”
— St. Theophylact, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 18:1–8
“when faith fails, prayer dies. In order to pray then, we must have faith, and that our faith fail not, we must pray. Faith pours forth prayer, and the pouring forth of the heart in prayer gives stedfastness to faith.”
— St. Augustine, Sermon 115, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 18:1–8
“He never refuses His blessings to them that pray, but rather stirs men up by His mercy not to faint in praying.”
— St. John Chrysostom, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 18:1–8
Saint of the day
Saint Lawrence O’Toole (c. 1128–1180), Archbishop of Dublin. Born in Ireland, he was abbot of Glendalough before becoming Archbishop of Dublin in 1162. He was known for his care of the poor and his work for peace, and died at Eu in Normandy on 14 November 1180. He was canonized in 1225; his feast is kept on 14 November as an optional memorial in Ireland.
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Sources: the day’s readings follow the daily lectionary (USCCB, Lectionary 496). The Gospel text is not reproduced here; read it at the link above. Patristic quotes: Catena Aurea on Luke 18:1–8, compiled by St. Thomas Aquinas, translated by John Henry Newman (1841, public domain).