Greetings on this the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Exodus 17:8-13; Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2; Luke 18:1-8
Summary
Today’s gospel portion is The Parable of the Persistent Widow.
Prayer is a central faith action for any Christian. Persistent prayer is the best expression of that faith. Consider the nature of Jesus. He was in constant prayer.
- Consistent – He was often described as praying even the most unchangeable things.
- Private and public – He was transparent in his dialog with the Father.
- Vocal – He spoke his mind as to give form to his thoughts.
- Honest – He spoke his mind with sincerity.
- Submissive – He spoke with humility and faithful to the divine will.
- Transformative – He modeled the change that happens to the person praying.
- Grateful – For the essence of God regardless of the circumstance.
- Intercessory – He prayed for himself and the benefit for others.
Consider our first reading today where Moses was assisted in his continuous prayer for victory in the battle.
Moses’ hands, however, grew tired; so they took a rock and put it under him and he sat on it. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady until sunset (Ex 17:12).
Now finally consider the patience of God.
And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation (2 Ptr 3:15a).
Reflection
In the direct prayer the persistent widow had a very important need for justice and she was determined to get it. In the indirect of the will of God, the conversion of the Judge was a parallel divine goal.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’ (Lk 18:3-5).
This was the beginning of his conversion.
- He recognized what he fears (the desperation of severe injustice).
- He recognizes who he respects (or not).
- He recognizes the consequences of injustice. The sort of ‘karma’ we use as a term these days.
This widow, patient and persistent, is a living testimony to the divine justice, the human resistance to change and the pathway of salvation for the crooked judge. Did he eventually repent? I don’t know. But the Widow did the divine-human work to make it possible,
Personal Reflection
Your prayers for justice are holy work. Even as we pray for ourselves the divine love wants to heal the broken perpetrator at the same time. Have confidence in the Lord answering your prayers. If he is ‘delayed’ know He is trying to save someone else by your prayer. And in the divine-human partnership, sanctity and holiness.
Pray without ceasing.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101925.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry