Our readings today offer us hope in remembering the “marvels the Lord has done” as we sing and repeat Psalm 105.  With all of the hardship, death, destruction and evil, it is vital that we celebrate and remember, in gratitude, the promises that God has kept for our well-being and the promises to re-order creation in the future, too.

Our first reading from Wisdom beautifully, assertively and descriptively recounts “that creation was made over anew,” that God’s “children are preserved unharmed,” and that we are “sheltered” by the hand of God.  What other times in our lives has God provided an unimpeded road when the path seemed blocked?  I think of small but significant turns and unexpectedly wonderful surprises and changes that have brought joy and relief.  These graces cannot be explained through coincidence but rather through faith — the trust that we have in God to actively work in our lives for good.

I’m not that old, but I’m old enough to get stuck in my ways and often be doubtful that things might take an unexpected turn for the better!  How often do we negatively assume things will never change, never get better, never be righted?  Speaking for myself, I can be guilty of assuming the worst in situations and judging or condemning people.  The nightly news seems to remind us - globally, nationally and locally - that life is often disappointing, disheartening and unjust.  We’ve seen this so clearly with the sin of racial injustice displayed prominently and constantly in front of our own eyes, in systems that we’ve created.  As of a few days ago, we’ve surpassed at least 5 million deaths from a virus that we keep arguing about how to collectively tackle.  Division, hate, selfishness, greed and apathy seem to reign in this world these days.

But, Jesus’ parable today, in Luke, reminds us to have hope in God’s loving power.  The poorly intentioned and misdirected judge eventually gives in to changing the injustice from the persistent widow, only because he fears what she might do to him.  Jesus reminds us that God, who so deeply loves and cares for us, would go miles further than the corrupt judge, for our well-being and for merciful justice.

I’m guessing that Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini, whose feast day we celebrate today, found hope in this Gospel passage and Jesus’ message of God’s steadfast love and commitment to us and to re-ordering creation.  Recounting all of her holy work, from beginning a missionary religious order, to ministering to the Italian immigrants in New York in the late 1890s and early 1900s, to settling up dozens of schools, hospitals and orphanages: it seems clear that Mother Cabrini didn’t lose hope in God’s work in the world, in assuming the injustices would never change and in her collaboration with God to work towards bringing about the Kingdom of God on earth. 

Let us hope in the Lord, today, and always, but particularly when the daily activities of life seem overwhelming, when injustice seems insurmountable, when division seems permanent and when love and joy seem distant.  May each one of us radiant God’s mercy and compassion in our lives, trusting that God is leading us (and needing us to collaborate) in the divine work of restoring justice and mercy here on Earth!