Sunday Liturgy: October 19, 2025

Texts taken from the Missal “On Your Word” September-October 2025

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)  - 1st wk. omitted.

First Reading

From the Book of Exodus (Ex 17:8-13)

In those days, Amalek came to fight against Israel at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua: «Choose some men for us and go out to battle against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill, with the staff of God in my hand». Joshua did as Moses had ordered him and fought against Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses raised his hands, Israel prevailed; but whenever he let them fall, Amalek prevailed. Since Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone, placed it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur, one on one side and the other on the other, sustained his hands. Thus his hands remained steady until sunset. Joshua defeated Amalek and his people, putting them to the sword.

The Word of God.

Commentary on the First Reading

The inhabitants of Amalek are historical enemies of Israel. Faced with yet another attack, Moses says to Joshua: «“Choose some men for us and go out to battle against Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill, with the staff of God in my hand”… Whenever Moses raised his hands, Israel prevailed; but whenever he let them fall, Amalek prevailed. Since Moses’ hands grew heavy, they took a stone, placed it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur sustained his hands… Joshua defeated Amalek and his people». A choice motivated by the certainty - as we will proclaim in the singing of the psalm - that «my help comes from the Lord». The people’s victory is the result of Joshua’s commitment together with his men, but a commitment sustained and animated by prayer that “comes from above”, the prayer of Moses. How can we fail to see in Moses’ outstretched arms the arms of Jesus on the cross, who perpetually intercedes for us! But do we turn our gaze upward, from where help comes to face our commitments and responsibilities?

Second Reading

From the second letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to Timothy (2 Tim 3:14-4:2)

My son, remain steadfast in what you have learned and firmly believe. You know from whom you learned it, and you have known the sacred Scriptures from childhood: these can instruct you for salvation, which is obtained through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture, inspired by God, is also useful for teaching, refuting, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete and well equipped for every good work. I charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who will come to judge the living and the dead, by his appearing and his kingdom: proclaim the Word, insist whether the time is opportune or not, admonish, reproach, exhort with all patience and instruction.

The Word of God.

Commentary on the Second Reading

Paul addresses his disciple Timothy: “Remain steadfast in what you have learned and firmly believed.” This is not an experience based on who knows what ideas or projects: “You know from whom you learned it, and you have known the sacred Scriptures from childhood; these are able to instruct you for salvation...” The power of Scripture is distinct from that of other sources because it communicates the wisdom that leads you to salvation. Here lies the core, what distinguishes Scripture from all other words: “The salvation that comes through faith in Christ Jesus.” Timothy is invited to base his life on this certainty, and starting from this experience he is called to become a witness and teacher: “Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage with all patience and teaching.” Now these words are addressed to each of us: to what extent is Scripture the foundation of our lives, animating our choices and becoming something we share with others?

Gospel

From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 18:1-8)

At that time, Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity of praying always without becoming weary: “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected anyone. In that city there was also a widow who used to come to him and say, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I neither fear God nor respect anyone, because this widow is bothering me so much, I will grant her justice, so that she will not keep coming and wearing me out.’” And the Lord added, “Listen to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then grant justice to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay in helping them? I tell you, he will see that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel

Just as Moses prayed unceasingly to obtain victory for the people (cf. first reading), so the widow described in the Gospel, thanks to her persistence, obtains from the judge what she desires: “She kept saying to him, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Because this widow is bothering me so much, I will grant her justice, so that she will not keep coming and wearing me out.’” Through this parable, Jesus wants to help us understand how important it is to “pray without becoming weary.” To pray, Jesus reminds us, it is important to have faith, to believe - as we sang in the psalm - that our help comes from the Lord. Persevering in prayer is not meant to attract the attention of a perhaps distracted God, but to remind ourselves to learn to live our lives before God, to face our battles and responsibilities knowing that our help comes from the Lord, before it comes from all our strategies. This is faith. But Jesus concludes, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”