Study and Meditations on this Sunday's Scripture Readings: October 17

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Gospel Reading- Luke 18:1-8

(See the “Overview of the Gospel” on the previous post)

This week we hear the first of two parables on prayer (we will hear the second one next week). The question has often been put to Jesus “When and how will the end come?” Jesus always answered that we are to persevere in humility so that we will always be ready.To teach his followers the need for perseverance in prayer and the effectiveness of such perseverance, our Lord told his disciples the following parable or story.

Here is this week’s Gospel Reading as we will hear it this Sunday:

Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, “There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
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.’”
The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

 

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The Navarre Bible Commentary on this Sunday’s Gospel includes a short lesson on prayer from Pope John Paul II:

Persevering Prayer. Parable of the Unjust Judge
------------------------------------------------
[1] And He (Jesus) told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. [2] He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; [3] and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him saying, Vindicate me against my adversary.' [4] For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, Though I neither fear God nor regard man, [5] yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’ [6] And the Lord said, “hear what the unrighteous judge says. [7] And will not God vindicate His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? [8] I tell you, He will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Commentary:

**1-8. **The parable of the unjust judge is a very eloquent lesson about the effectiveness of persevering, confident prayer. It also forms a conclusion to Jesus’ teaching about watchfulness, contained in the previous verses (17:23-26). Comparing God with a person like this makes the point even clearer: if even an unjust judge ends up giving justice to the man who keeps on pleading his case, how much more will God, who is infinitely just, and who is our Father, listen to the persevering prayer of His children. God, in other words, gives justice to His elect if they persist in seeking His help.

1. “They ought always to pray and not lose heart.” Why must we pray?

"1. WE MUST PRAY FIRST AND FOREMOST BECAUSE WE ARE BELIEVERS.

"Prayer is in fact the recognition of our limitation and our dependence: we come from God, we belong to God and we return to God! We cannot, therefore, but abandon ourselves to Him, our Creator and Lord, with full and complete confidence …].

"Prayer, therefore, is first of all an act of intelligence, a feeling of humility and gratitude, an attitude of trust and abandonment to Him who gave us life out of love.

"Prayer is a mysterious but real dialogue with God, a dialogue of confidence and love.

"2. WE, HOWEVER, ARE CHRISTIANS, AND THEREFORE WE MUST PRAY AS CHRISTIANS.

"For the Christian, in fact, prayer acquires a particular characteristic, which completely changes its innermost nature and innermost value. The Christian is a disciple of Jesus; he is one who really believes that Jesus is the Word Incarnate, the Son of God who came among us on this earth.

"As a man, the life of Jesus was a continual prayer, a continual act of worship and love of the Father and since the maximum expression of prayer is sacrifice, the summit of Jesus’ prayer is the Sacrifice of the Cross, anticipated by the Eucharist at the Last Supper and handed down by means of the Holy Mass throughout the centuries.

"Therefore, the Christian knows that his prayer is that of Jesus; every prayer of his starts from Jesus; it is He who prays in us, with us, for us. All those who believe in God, pray; but the Christian prays in Jesus Christ: Christ is our prayer!

"3. FINALLY, WE MUST ALSO PRAY BECAUSE WE ARE FRAIL AND GUILTY.

“It must be humbly and realistically recognized that we are poor creatures, confused in ideas, tempted by evil, frail and weak, in continual need of inner strength and consolation. Prayer gives the strength for great ideas, to maintain faith, charity, purity and generosity. Prayer gives the courage to emerge from indifference and guilt, if unfortunately one has yielded to temptation and weakness. Prayer gives light to see and consider the events of one’s own life and of history in the salvific perspective of God and eternity. Therefore, do not stop praying! Let not a day pass without your having prayed a little! Prayer is a duty, but it is also a great joy, because it is a dialogue with God through Jesus Christ! Every Sunday, Holy Mass: if it is possible for you, sometimes during the week. Every day, morning and evening prayers, and at the most suitable moments!” (John Paul II, “Audience with Young People”, 14 March 1979).

8. Jesus combines His teaching about perseverance in prayer with a serious warning about the need to remain firm in the faith: faith and prayer go hand in hand. St. Augustine comments, “In order to pray, let us believe; and for our faith not to weaken, let us pray. Faith causes prayer to grow, and when prayer grows our faith is strengthened” (“Sermon”, 115).

Our Lord has promised His Church that it will remain true to its mission until the end of time (cf. Matthew 28:20); the Church, therefore, cannot go off the path of the true faith. But not everyone will remain faithful: some will turn their backs on the faith of their own accord. This is the mystery which St. Paul describes as “the rebellion” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and which Jesus Christ announces on other occasions (cf. Matthew 24:12-13). In this way our Lord warns us, to help us stay watchful and persevere in the faith and in prayer even though people around us fall away.

 

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From the Douay Rheims with Haydock Commentary:

We must pray always…

*1 And he spoke also a parable to them, that we ought always to pray, and not to faint,

Ver. 1. Always to pray, i.e. to pray daily, and frequently; (Witham) and also to walk always in the presence of God, by a spirit of prayer, love, and sorrow for sin.

2 Saying: There was a judge in a certain city, who feared not God, nor regarded man.
**
Ver. 2. ** This judge, who feared not God, nor cared for man, yet yielded to the importunity of the widow, represents the absolute and sovereign power of God. But we must not suppose the Almighty has any of the faults we see in this iniquitous judge. Comparisons are not meant to hold good in every particular. The only consequence to be drawn from the present parable, is this: if a man, who has neither piety nor tenderness for his fellow creatures, yield to the importunity of a widow, who is not wearied out with repeating her petitions; how much more will God, who is full of bounty and tenderness to man, and only seek occasions to grant him his gifts, hear the prayers of the fervent, and fill with benedictions the petitioner, who can continue like the widow to importune his interference, and can beg without languor or discouragement? (Calmet)

3 And there was a certain widow in that city, and she came to him, saying: Avenge me of my adversary.

**Ver. 3. **Avenge me; i.e. do me justice. It is a Hebraism. (Witham)

4 And he would not for a long time. But afterwards he said within himself: Although I fear not God, nor regard man,

Ver. 4. And he would not for a long time. The Almighty does not always hear us as soon as we could wish, nor in the manner that seems best to us; but if we are not always heard according to our desires, we always are as far as is conducive to our salvation. He sometimes delays, in order to exercise our patience, and increase our ardour: sometimes he grants, in his anger, what, in him mercy, he would refuse. Let us then pray always, desire always, love always. Desire always, and you pray always. This is the continual voice of prayer, which the Almighty demands of you. You are silent, when you cease to love. The cooling of charity, is the silence of the heart. (St. Augustine, in Psalm xxxvii.) (Witham)

5 Yet because this widow is troublesome to me, I will avenge her, lest continually coming, she weary me out.

Ver. 5. She weary me out. This, as much as I am able to find out, seems the literal signification both of the Latin and Greek text. (Witham)
*
6 And the Lord said: Hear what the unjust judge saith:

7 And will not God avenge his elect, who cry to him day and night: and will he have patience in their regard?

8 I say to you, he will quickly avenge them. But yet, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find, think you, faith on earth?*

**Ver. 8. ** In the Greek, although he suffer for the present the elect to be oppressed. (Bible de Vence) — Our divine Redeemer adds, this, to shew that *faith *must necessarily accompany our prayers. For whosoever prays for what he does not believe he shall obtain, will pray in vain; let us, therefore, entreat the Father of mercies to grant us the grace of prayer, and firmness in faith; for faith produces prayer, and prayer produces firmness of faith. (St. Augustine, de verb. Dom. Serm 36.) — But of this there is little left on the earth, and there will be still less at the second coming of the Son of God.

 

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Some other thoughts on the Gospel Reading:

1 Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary: As the last verse in this reading makes clear, mere continual prayer is not what He is talking about, but fidelity to God must be the motivator of this prayer.

He said, 2 "There was a judge in a certain town: Every town and large village of Palestine had a man appointed by the central authority in Jerusalem, whose duty it was to settle all local disputes brought to him.

who neither feared God nor respected any human being: A pagan Roman would not be expected to respect the God of the Jews. But this Jew had no respect for God or his ten commandments. Public opinion likewise had no effect on him. He was a law unto himself. Such characters were not uncommon: the Talmud gives many examples of injustices committed by venal judges. Centuries before, Isaiah spoke of similar misdemeanors: "They (judges) justify the wicked for gifts and take away the justice of the just from them " (5: 23). and in 1: 23 he says: “They judge not for the fatherless and the widow’s cause comes not in to them.”

3 And a widow in that town: The very name “widow,” one who had lost her bread-winner and had to be “father and mother” to her family, implies one who has a special claim on charity not to mention justice (Deut 26:12). A woman who has lost her male agency in a patriarchal society was powerless. Both Jesus and Luke take a compassionate interest in their plight (2:37; 4:25-26; 7:12; 20:47; 21:3).

**used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’: **Probably a rich, influential man. The widow was too poor to bribe either the judge or his assistant and these officials did not wish to alienate important citizens. He refused to hear her claim against some unjust neighbor or relative, but she kept coming.

The woman has faith that justice will be done and is therefore persistent. We need to remain firm in our faith: faith and prayer go hand in hand (Rom 12:12; 1 Thess 5:17).

4 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: It was not fear of God’s punishment or fear of public opinion that made him hear her case at last.

5 because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’": It is unlikely that a poor widow would hit him on the head or beat him up as the Greek word means, but her continuous knocking at his door was as unbearable and as injurious as a physical beating. This was because he was a selfish, self-centered man. He decided then to give judgment in her favor—mainly due to her perseverance.

Continued below…

 

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**6 The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says: **Two lessons are drawn via the argument from the lesser to the greater: (1) If the persistent pleading of the helpless widow is fruitful, how much more will the persistent praying of Christian disciples achieve? (2) If an unjust judge yields to the pleadings of a widow, how much will a gracious God (Sirach 35:12-17)?

7 Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?: If a corrupt, egoistic judge can be eventually moved by the perseverance of a helpless widow, how much more so will the all-just, all-merciful God be moved to help his “chosen”, his friends, who prove by their perseverance that their approach to him is filial and sincere?

8 I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily: If they have to persevere in asking, how is God’s answer swift? There is question here of our human idea of immediacy and God’s idea. If God did our will he would remove all trials and difficulties as soon as they began. God knows better what is for our good. The delay in answering, and our need for perseverance in prayer, is a necessary part of our spiritual formation. God’s answer is “swift” when it comes at the opportune moment.
**
But when the Son of Man comes: The coming of the Son of Man almost always refers to the parousia or the second coming of Christ as judge. The parousia may be long in coming, but it will come surely, speedily, and in a completely unexpected way. If it is part of the parable here (many authors hold it is not) its meaning is that at the judgment, which each one must face at the moment of death, one’s sentence will depend on the trust (the “faith”) he had placed in God’s mercy during his life. If he has persevered in prayer, while bearing his cross patiently, and begging God for relief only if that is for his eternal good, and is therefore according to the true mercy and justice of God, he will have proved that he had this “faith,” this trust, all through his life. “He who perseveres (in fidelity to Christ, which includes continual prayer) to the end shall be saved,” our Lord himself said (Mk. 13:13; see 1 Cor. 15:58; Rom. 12:12, etc.).
**
will he find faith on earth?": The question is not about God’s vindication of God’s persecuted community; God will vindicate them. The question is whether Jesus’ disciples will remain faithful to Him during the long haul caused by the delay of His return.

Our Lord has promised His Church that it will remain true to its mission until the end of time (Matthew 28:20); the Church, therefore, cannot go off the path of the true faith. But not everyone will remain faithful: some will turn their backs on the faith of their own accord. We must stay watchful and persevere in the faith and in prayer even though people around us fall away.

 

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Sections where this passage is cited in the Catechism of the Catholic Church include the following:

**2613 **Three principal parables on prayer are transmitted to us by St. Luke:

• The first, "the importunate friend,"75 invites us to urgent prayer: “Knock, and it will be opened to you.” To the one who prays like this, the heavenly Father will “give whatever he needs,” and above all the Holy Spirit who contains all gifts.

• The second, “the importunate widow,”**76 **is centered on one of the qualities of prayer: it is necessary to pray always without ceasing and with the patience of faith. “And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

• The third parable, "the Pharisee and the tax collector,"77 concerns the humility of the heart that prays. “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” The Church continues to make this prayer its own: Kyrie eleison!

1. Cf. Lk 11:5-13.

76. Cf. Lk 18:1-8.

1. Cf. Lk 18:9-14.

*** Prayer**

2098 The acts of faith, hope, and charity enjoined by the first commandment are accomplished in prayer. Lifting up the mind toward God is an expression of our adoration of God: prayer of praise and thanksgiving, intercession and petition. Prayer is an indispensable condition for being able to obey God’s commandments. "[We] ought always to pray and not lose heart."15

15. Lk 18:1.

The Church’s ultimate trial
**
675** Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers.574 The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth 575 will unveil the “mystery of iniquity” in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh.576

574. Cf. Lk 18:8; Mt 24:12.

1. Cf. Lk 21:12; Jn 15:19-20.

1. Cf. 2 Thes 2:4-12; 1 Thes 5:2-3; 2 Jn 7; 1 Jn 2:18,22.

 

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Some questions on this Gospel Reading for personal reflection and application:

1. What method did the woman in Jesus’ story use as she approached the judge?

1. How is God like and unlike the judge?

1. What in the passage suggests that the woman was sure of the justice of her case?

1. For whose sake do you think Jesus spoke this passage? How does Jesus apply the moral of the story to his audience (verses 6-8)?

1. How does the widow’s perseverance in pressing her case compare with your own perseverance in prayer? When it comes to prayer, are you more likely to give up or to hang tough? Why?

1. When we grow weary in persevering in prayer, what are some things we can do to gain strength to carry on (Hint: see Reading 1, Exodus 17:8-13).

 

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A meditation on this Sunday’s Gospel for personal reflection and practical application from Catholic Matters:

**APPLICATION: **There are many devout Christians who are deeply puzzled by what they think is God’s indifference to their fervent pleas for spiritual favors, which to them appear essential in their journey heavenwards. These people would readily admit that God has good reasons for not granting temporal favors—they might not be for their eternal good. Why refuse or delay granting their spiritual needs? The man or woman who has dedicated his or her life exclusively to the service of God still suffers from human weaknesses. He or she is attracted to worldly things, is finding humility and obedience very difficult, suffers from dryness in prayer or worse still is scrupulous to a degree that makes the religious life almost unbearable. Such people could work so much better for God and for their neighbor if only God would remove these weaknesses which, in fact, he could so easily do. .

Or again, why should whole nations of devout Christians suffer persecution from atheistic tyrants? See their children brought up deprived of the right to practice their faith, or, worse still, taught to despise it? Surely God should answer the prayers of these good people and the fervent prayers of millions of their fellow-Christians on their behalf . . .

These and many similar questionings arise in our minds because our limited, human intellects can see but one small section of the immense tapestry which God is weaving for the human race. We would all like immediate results in our own tiny comer of that tapestry while the all-wise God is occupied with the whole picture. He is not forgetting us either. If he delays in answering our urgent appeals, we can be certain that the reason is not that he wants to punish us, but rather to help us. There are many saints in heaven who would perhaps never have become saints if God had not allowed them to struggle on longer than they would have wished, against trials and difficulties—spiritual as well as physical.

Our divine Lord teaches us, in this parable, the need for perseverance in prayer. This perseverance develops our trust and confidence in God. It helps us to become humble and to realize how weak we are when left to ourselves. It keeps us close to God, as we learn how dependent we are on his generosity. If we only would realize that God is perhaps never closer to us than when we think he is forgetting us! The trials of life, spiritual or temporal, which he allows us to suffer are not obstacles to our spiritual progress but rather step-ping-stones without which we could not cross the rivers of life at all.

God wants every one of us in heaven but just as no two men on earth have the same identical features, so also no two men on earth have the same road to lead them to heaven. God is supervising the journey of each one of us. He is ever there to help if the obstacle on one’s road is insurmountable. We may and we must, keep asking God for the spiritual and temporal favors which we feel we need. We must never grow despondent or feel that God has lost interest in us, if he delays in granting these favors. When we shall look back on our earthly journey from the happy vantage point of heaven, we shall see how effectively and how lovingly God regulated our journey. When he did not grant a certain favor it was because he had a much more important one to give us, one we did not ask for or even realize we needed.

“Ask and you shall receive,” not perhaps what you wanted, but what God knew you needed. “Seek and you shall find,” not the easy way which you thought you deserved, but the harder way which would make you more deserving of heaven. “Knock and it shall be opened unto you,” not the door you were standing at, which would have delayed or endangered your progress, but the door further down the street where refreshment and new courage to continue on your upward climb were awaiting you.

 

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A reflection on this Sunday’s readings from Dr. Scott Hahn:

Hope From on High

*The Lord is our guardian, beside us at our right hand, interceding for us in all our spiritual battles.
*
In today’s Psalm we’re told to lift our eyes to the mountains, that our help will come from Mount Zion and the Temple - the dwelling of the Lord who made heaven and earth.

Joshua and the Israelites, in today’s First Reading, are also told to look to the hilltops. They are to find their help there - through the intercession of Moses - as they defend themselves against their mortal foes, the Amalekites.

Notice the image: Aaron and Hur standing on each side of Moses, holding his weary arms so that he can raise the staff of God above his head. Moses is being shown here as a figure of Jesus, who also climbed a hilltop, and on Mount Calvary stretched out His hands between heaven and earth to intercede for us against the final enemy - sin and death (see 1 Corinthians 15:26).

By the staff of God, Moses bested Israel’s enemies (see Exodus 7:8-12;8:1-2), parted the Red Sea (see Exodus 14:16) and brought water from the Rock (see Exodus 17:6).

The Cross of Jesus is the new staff of God, bringing about a new liberation from sin, bringing forth living waters from the body of Christ, the new Temple of God (see John 2:19-21; 7:37-39; 19:34; 1 Corinthians 10:4).

Like the Israelites and the widow in today’s Gospel, we face opposition and injustice - at times from godless and pitiless adversaries.

We, too, must lift our eyes to the mountains - to Calvary and the God who will guard us from all evil.

We must pray always and not be wearied by our trials, Jesus tells us today. As Paul exhorts in today’s Epistle, we need to remain faithful, to turn to the inspired Scriptures - given by God to train us in righteousness.

We must persist, so that when the Son of Man comes again in kingly power, He will indeed find faith on earth.

 

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A reflection on the Gospel reading from Daily Scripture Readings & Meditations:

"Keep praying and do not lose heart"

Meditation: What can a shameless and unjust judge pitted against a crusty and pestering woman teach us about justice and vindication in the kingdom of God? Jesus tells a story that is all too true — a defenseless widow is taken advantaged of and refused her rights. Through sheer persistence she wears down an unscrupulous judge until he gives her justice. Persistence pays off, and that’s especially true for those who trust in God. Jesus illustrates how God as our Judge is much quicker to bring us his justice, blessing, and help when we need it. But we can easily lose heart and forget to ask our Heavenly Father for his grace and help. Jesus told this parable to give fresh hope and confidence to his disciples. In this present life we can expect trials and adversity, but we are not without hope in God. The Last Judgment will reveal that God’s justice triumphs over all the injustices perpetrated by his creatures and that God’s love is stronger than death (Song of Songs 8:6). The just can look forward with hope to that day when they will receive their reward.

Jesus ends his parable with a probing question for us. Will you and I have faith — the faith that perseveres to the end of time — when Jesus returns in glory to judge the living and the dead? Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to us. If we want to live, grow, and persevere in the faith until the end, then we must nourish it with the word of God and ask the Lord to increase it (Luke 17:5). When trials and setbacks disappoint you, where do you place your hope? Do you pray with expectant faith and confidence in God’s merciful care and providence for you?
*
“Lord, give me faith to believe your promises and give me perseverance and hope to withstand trials and adversities. Help me to trust in your unfailing love and to find joy and contentment in you alone.” *

 

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The Prayer That We Breathe
A Scriptural Reflection for Sunday, October 17, 2010 | Carl E. Olson

How long can any of us live without air? A few minutes at best? How long can we live spiritually without prayer? Frankly, I often take prayer for granted. But I doubt that I’m alone in that regard. Just as air goes unnoticed until it is absent, prayer can, inversely, sometimes be absent until we suddenly find ourselves in a crisis that leaves us gasping for spiritual air.

Today’s readings, as different as they are from each other, highlight two aspects of prayer that are, paradoxically, often overlooked and yet are readily obvious to all of us. The Catechism of the Catholic Church refers directly to these two qualities:

“Before confronting his elder brother Esau, Jacob wrestles all night with a mysterious figure who refuses to reveal his name, but he blesses him before leaving him at dawn. From this account, the spiritual tradition of the Church has retained the symbol of prayer as a battle of faith and as the triumph of perseverance.” (par. 2573).

Prayer, then, is both a battle of faith and the triumph of perseverance. We usually don’t think of prayer in these terms because, I think, we often envision prayer as having to be serene and peaceful, a smooth path of communication between God and ourselves. Yet, on the other hand, we all know that prayer often is a battle; it is a struggle against our natural inclination to not pray if we “don’t feel like it.” And prayer can also reveal to us the grim reality of spiritual warfare. This battle, the Catechism insightfully points out, shows us that “Christian prayer is neither an escape from reality nor a divorce from life.” Rather, just as the life and letters of Mother Teresa demonstrate, “our battle has to confront what we experience as failure in prayer: discouragement during periods of dryness…” (par. 2728).

Today’s first reading, from the book of Exodus, provides a dramatic example of prayer as a battle and a victory of perseverance. The passage describes the Israelites being attacked by the Amalekites, who were descendents of Jacob’s brother, Esau. Moses takes up the staff of God, which had been used previously to defeat the Pharoah, and stands on a hill, with hands raised, overlooking the battle. The word “prayer” doesn’t appear, but clearly Moses, the God-chosen leader of the Israelites, is upholding his embattled people in prayer and, when he tires, is helped by the high priest, his brother Aaron. Justin Martyr, in his Dialogue with Trypho, interpreted Moses’ actions as a foreshadowing of the sign of the Cross, and John Chrysostom took up this same image, writing, “But Christ, when he came, himself held his hands extended on the cross by his own power.”

Both Jesus, in today’s Gospel, and Paul, in the epistle, talk about perseverance in prayer and faith. The Apostle to the Gentiles exhorted Timothy, his surrogate son in the Faith, to “remain faithful to what you have learned and believed” and then solemnly charged him to “proclaim the word” and “be persistent.” What we believe and what we pray are intimately connected, as expressed in the ancient statement, lex orandi, lex credendi—“ The law of prayer is the law of faith” (cf., CCC 1124). Perseverance in faith is perseverance in prayer.

In Luke 17, read from over the past few Sundays, Jesus spoke about faith, indicating that the apostles possessed little of it. In Luke 18 Jesus is described as telling His disciples “about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.” The parable He told was rather humorous—a dishonest judge gives in to the rightful demands of a widow because he fears she will beat him up. But the point is just as serious: true faith and authentic prayer are persevering in nature. Prayer is often difficult because it is part of a battle. Praise God, that battle has been won on the Cross by the Son of Man. May we persevere in faith and prayer, so we might see Him face to face.

 

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Mass Reading & Meditation for October 17, 2010, from The Word Among Us magazine:

*“He will see to it that justice is done … speedily.” *(Luke 18:8)

Sometimes justice is hard to come by. The widow, who was trying to find justice, was unhappy because the outcome of her case was in doubt. Consequently, she decided to pester the judge until she got the judgment she knew she deserved. And this pestering ultimately paid off!

Justice is primarily a matter of rendering what is due, of doing what is right. Justice is meant to be given based on facts, irrespective of feelings or passion. It’s not meant to be obtained by persistence, determination, or persuasion. Yet this is exactly what happened! With this in mind, Jesus asked: “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?” (Luke 18:7).

While God’s justice is generally free of passion, he has a special love for the poor. And who are the poor? Not just those who are materially destitute. Any one of us can become “poor” when we lose heart, when we believe that no one cares for us, when we believe that no one is on our side, or when we believe that no one understands what we are going through.

Notice that the judge never chose this woman. But God did choose us. We are his people, his beloved sons and daughters. Jesus has become one with us, and that makes us his own special possession. He will always treat us with love and care. So when you feel poor, as if no one cares about you, all you have to do is go to the great Judge and talk to him. He is on your side! He feels for you, and he is with you. He hears your cries. Always pray, then, and never lose heart. Persist, and God will make sure that you receive the special justice that is set aside for the poor and humble and lowly.
*
“Thank you, Father, for your love and your justice. Teach me, Lord, how to persist in prayer and in trust. I know you will never forsake me.”*

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:

1. In the first reading, we see that whenever Moses’ intervention on behalf of his people flagged, those people he was charged with leading and protecting began to falter. As someone with responsibilities for family and friends, how constant are you in praying on their behalf? How could you improve?

1. Also in the first reading, notice that Moses can’t do it alone. Without Aaron and Hur to support his raised hands when they grew tired, the outcome of the battle with Amalek would have been a disaster. Moses, the man who parted the Red Sea and spoke to God face-to-face, still needed the support of friends and brothers to be victorious over his enemies. Do you believe that you too need the support of other Christians if you are to engage in and win your own spiritual battles against evil? Why or why not?

1. What occasions can you plan in the upcoming weeks to get together with others to pray for and to support one another? What would prevent you from doing this?

1. In the responsorial psalm, we read that God “neither slumbers nor sleeps” in his ever vigilant protection. Also, he is our “help,” our “shade,” our “guardian,” and “he is beside you at your right hand.” In light of these wonderful truths, what steps might you take to focus your thoughts more on God during the day?

1. In the second reading, St. Paul tells Timothy of the importance of “sacred Scripture” because it “is inspired by God and is useful” in our growth as Catholics. How can you better incorporate Scripture reading into your daily prayer and your daily routines?

1. The Gospel’s parable contrasts the dishonest judge with our loving Father who so wants to shower us with his love. Do you see God as a harsh judge or loving Father? Why? How does your view of God the Father affect how you pray to him and how you live out your life each day? This week, pray daily that your heavenly Father will allow you to experience his great love for you in a deeper way.

1. In the meditation, we hear these words regarding the Gospel reading: “Notice that the judge never chose this woman. But God did choose us. We are his people, his beloved sons and daughters. Jesus has become one with us, and that makes us his own special possession. He will always treat us with love and care.” It is so easy to forget, because of our own weaknesses and sins, that we really are beloved sons and daughters of our heavenly Father—because of who we are in Christ. Do you believe this? Why or why not? What ways of thinking are there that get in the way of your believing this Gospel truth?

 

[Fidelis]

God Will Vindicate His Chosen Ones — A Biblical Reflection for 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C | Fr. Thomas Rosica CSB, Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation

Luke depicts Jesus at prayer right from the beginning of the Gospel. Prayer becomes one of the ways by which we follow Jesus. Luke’s story of Jesus begins in the context of Jewish prayer in the Temple at Jerusalem, when Zechariah is told that his prayer has been heard (1:13).

The texts of the Infancy Narrative are beautifully woven together around the prayers of Zechariah, Mary, Simeon, Anna, angels and shepherds. So many of the major moments of Jesus’ life are linked with prayer occurring either before or after the events: at his baptism (3:21); before the choosing of the Twelve (6:12); at the Transfiguration, the Last Supper, and even unto death on the cross. In each prayerful moment, Jesus lives out the story of God’s great dialogue with the human family by remaining totally open to the power of God.

Luke tells us that Jesus sometimes prayed all night (6:12), and some ancient texts say of his praying on the night of his arrest: “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground” (22:44).

Luke insists on the importance of prayer for the Christian life. We must pray unceasingly, for prayer is a sign of our faith in God. Prayer is not something that we use to put pressure on God to get our own way. Authentic prayer opens us up to the action of God’s Spirit, bringing us in line with God’s desires, and making us into true disciples, obedient to Jesus and to the Father who has sent him.

Two parables on prayer

In today’s Gospel, we find the first of two parables on prayer that conclude the Lukan travel narrative. It is most likely that the two parables existed separately and in other contexts. The first (18:1-8) teaches the disciples the need of persistent prayer so that they not fall victims to apostasy (v. 8). The second (18:9-14) condemns the self-righteous, critical attitude of the Pharisee and teaches that the fundamental attitude of the Christian disciple must be the recognition of sinfulness and complete dependence on God’s graciousness.

Verses 2-5 and 10-13 are the parables proper. Luke has joined the two parables because they both deal with the subject of prayer. Yet on closer reading, it is evident that both parables are about God’s vindication, i.e., God’s upholding, justifying, exonerating and confirming.

According to the first parable, which is today’s Gospel (18:1-8), God will soon vindicate his chosen ones, but in the second parable, it is not those who think of themselves as chosen or holy who are vindicated but those who confess they are sinners. This placing of seemingly contrasting stories back to back (vindication of holy ones/vindication of sinners) recalls a previous structure in Luke. In Chapter 7, Luke moved directly from a story about Jesus and “a woman of the city” to a report in Chapter 8 about Jesus and women who participated in his ministry (8:1-3). Again in Chapter 10, Luke joined two stories, one that said in effect “Go and do likewise” (the Good Samaritan) and the second story set in Bethany, “Sit quietly and listen to the Master” (Martha and Mary).

The judge and the widow

By means of the parable of the judge and the widow (an image of helplessness in that culture, easily victimized by the powerful), Jesus assures his followers that God “will vindicate them quickly” (18:8). This parable is very similar to the parable of the friend at midnight (11:5-8). As in the parable of the steward caught cheating, today’s lesson involves a person not of commendable character. The movement of the parable is from the lesser to the greater: If a cruel judge will give way to the unrelenting pressure of the widow, how much more will God listen to the prayers of his holy ones?

Both parables in Luke 18 present prayer as continual and persistent, hurling its petitions against long periods of silence. Prayer means asking, seeking, knocking and waiting, boundless trust and patience. Those who pray sometimes become frustrated and angry that their supplications are not heard. Yet life in the Christian community is possible only through a life of prayer. The surprising thing about prayer is that its first effect is in us. Our own minds and hearts are shaped by prayer as we seek opportunities to translate that prayer into practice, the true test of its authenticity…

 

[Fidelis]

The Practices of Prayer: A Meditation on the Readings for the 29th Sunday of the Year
By: Msgr. Charles Pope

The readings today speak to us of the power of persistent prayer. In particular the first reading from Exodus pictures prayer powerfully:

*In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel. Moses, therefore, said to Joshua, “Pick out certain men, and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle. I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur. As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. Moses’hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. *(Ex 17:-8-13)

We can notice here six practices related to prayer, six fundamental teachings on prayer:

1. The Problem for Prayer. In those days, Amalek came and waged war against Israel. None of us like problems, but one thing about problems is that they help to keep us praying. Israel is at war and their enemies are strong. It was time to pray. In the Gospel for this weekend’s Mass, a widow is troubled about something and it keeps here coming back to the judge. Sometimes God allows us problems to keep us praying. Problems also keep us humble and remind us of our need for God and others. Problems aren’t the only reason we pray but they are one important motivator. It shouldn’t be necessary that problems would cause us to pray. But if we’re honest, we’ll probably admit that problems have a way of summoning prayer from us.

1. **The Priority of Prayer. ***Moses, therefore, said to Joshua, “Pick out certain men, and tomorrow go out and engage Amalek in battle. I will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him: he engaged Amalek in battle after Moses had climbed to the top of the hill with Aaron and Hur. *Notice that Joshua and the army did not go forth until Moses took up his prayer place. Prayer ought to precede any major work or decision. Too often we rush into life without praying. Each day should begin with prayer. Important decisions are a time for prayer. Prayer needs to precede, it has a priority over and before action. Too many people use prayer as a kind of rear-guard action wherein they ask God to clean up the messes they have made by bad decisions. We end up doing a lot of things we shouldn’t because we don’t pray first. We also end up doing a lot of things poorly that prayer might have clarified or enriched. And prayer isn’t just about praying for this or that specific thing. Prayer involves an on-going relationship with God in which we gradually begin to receive a new mind and heart, where our priorities and vision are clarified and purified. This new mind and heart we get from prayer and study of our faith are also to be considered as a part of the prayer that precedes decisions and actions.

1. The Power of Prayer. *As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. As long as Moses prayed, Israel got the best of the battle. But when fatigue caused his prayer to diminish Israel began to lose. *The fact is, prayer changes things. We may never fully know here how our prayer helped to change world history but I am sure that one of the joys of heaven will be to see what a real difference our prayers, even the distracted and poor ones, made. We’ll tell stories in heaven of prayer’s power and appreciate what difference it made for us and what a difference we made for others. For now, much of this is hid from our eyes. But, one day, by and by, we will see with a glorious vision what prayer did. I suppose too that one of the pangs of purgatory might be to see how our failure to pray also had negative effects and how only God’s mercy could over-rule our laziness and failure to pray. Moses is struggling to pray here in this story. So do we. But remembering prayer’s power is an important motivator to keep us on our knees and at our beads. Pray!

Continued below…

 

[Fidelis]

1. The Partnership of Prayer. *Moses’ hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. *Moses, because of his fatigue, knows he needs to get Aaron and Hur to assist him in praying. As a team they pray together and once again Israel is strengthened and begins to win through. Prayer is not supposed to be a merely “lone-ranger” experience. It is true that personal prayer is important but so is communal and group prayer. The Lord says, Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt 18:20). Likewise he says, Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven(Matt 18:19). Hence, we are taught to gather in prayer liturgically and also to find partners for prayer. Since prayer is so essential and we are individually weak we ought not have it all depend on us. We need our own Aaron and Hur to support us in prayer and make up for our weakness. Do you have some spiritual friends who help you not only to pray but also to walk uprightly? Scripture says, Woe to the solitary man! For if he should fall, he has no one to lift him up….where a lone man may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:10,12) Do pray or journey alone. Find some good spiritual friends to accompany you on your journey and to pray along with you.

5.** The Persistence of Prayer.** *so that [Moses] hands remained steady till sunset. *The text says that, with Aaron and Hur to help him, Moses prayed right through to sunset. They prayed right until the end and so must we. There is a mystery as to why God sometimes makes us wait. But pray on anyway. We may at times get frustrated by the delay, pray on anyway. We may get fatigued or even lose heart, but pray on anyway. Like Moses, get some friends to help you, but pray on anyway. Pray, pray, pray. Be like the woman in today’s Gospel who just kept coming to that old judge until he rendered justice for her. Pray until the sunset of your life. I have brought people into the Church long after their spouse or mother who prayed for them has died. Just keep praying till sunset.

1. **The Product of Prayer. **And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. The text says that the enemies of Israel were utterly defeated. This is the product and the power of persistent prayer. This is what prayer does. We have already discussed above that we may not fully see prayer’s power and product on this side of the veil. But one day we will on glory’s side. We may not need God to mow down an foreign enemy. But how about the enemies like fear, poverty, illness, and sin? Yes, we have enemies and God still answers prayers. Pray and wait for the product of prayer.

http://blog.adw.org/wp-content/uploads/Moses-Aaron-and-Hur.jpg

 

[Fidelis]

Sunday Gospel Reflections from the Vietnamese Christian Life (Dong Hanh) Community:

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: Exodus 17:8-13
II: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

1 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man;
3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Vindicate me against my adversary.’
4 For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor regard man,
5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”
6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says.
7 And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Interesting Details

* The word "widow" in Hebrew means "Silent One" or "One unable to speak." This word is not so much for a mute person but a woman in the patriarchal Mediterranean world does not speak for herself. In the context of this parable, the widow is an image of powerlessness.
* (v.5) Literally translated, "she will end up giving me a black eye". The figurative Greek word "blacken one's face" means to publicly shame a person. And to have the shameless judge yield to the widow's pressure (of shaming him) has proven that her persistence has finally paid off.
* At the time, younger widows were considered to be very socially unacceptable and were urged to remarry. One of the major concerns in the early Church was determining who truly was a widow. See the discussion in 1 Timothy 5:3-15.
* Other interesting reading related to the widow could be found in Isaiah (1:23, 10:2) who criticized the harsh treatment, and special protection of God in (Jer 49:11; Ps 68:5; Jas 1:27)

One Main Point

Jesus teaches us to be consistent when we pray and not to be discouraged and give up for He is our loving God will answer to our prayer.

Reflections

1. Has my routine prayer become more of a habit and somehow has lost its sense of my personal sincerity?
2. Has the “answer” to my prayer always been in what I have asked for? Or have I ever recognized “God’s will” in the silence after I have asked God to do it my way?

 

[Beachcomber]

Nice job, Fidelis. This is the first time I’ve seriously done some study with what you’ve provided. Very helpful!

 

[Fidelis]

Nice job, Fidelis. This is the first time I’ve seriously done some study with what you’ve provided. Very helpful!

Glad you found it helpful, Beachcomber. God willing, we’ll do it again next week!

 

[Fidelis]

One last meditation, from Presentation Ministries:

PRAYER LINES

“*…the necessity of praying always and not losing heart.” *—Luke 18:1

Jesus teaches us in today’s parable to pray in perseverance for our needs (Lk 18:1). Elsewhere in Scripture, Jesus reveals more about how to pray always with perseverance and power:

* Pray by listening to God (Lk 10:38-42).
* Pray in a love-relationship with "Abba" (Mt 6:9; Gal 4:6).
* Pray with faith. Jesus is always looking for faith (Lk 18:8).
* Pray without ever losing heart, that is, not growing weary and not going through the motions of prayer (Lk 18:1).
* Pray the words of Scripture (2 Tm 3:16). Praying the word of God has powerful force (Jn 10:35).
* Pray in confident power with others (Mt 18:19-20; Acts 4:24-31; Ex 17:8-13).
* "Pray in the Spirit" (Eph 6:18) using the spiritual gift of tongues. The Holy Spirit directly intercedes through us in tongues and helps us in our weakness (Rm 8:26).
* Pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17).

Observe a young couple in love. They spend day after day in each other’s presence without growing weary of each other. Therefore, ask Jesus to give you a new heart (Ez 36:26) and open it to receive the love He is pouring out through the Holy Spirit (Rm 5:5). Then your prayer will grow in love instead of growing weary.

Prayer: Father, may I pray not because I want something from You, but always because I want You.

Promise: “All Scripture is inspired of God and is useful for teaching — for reproof, correction, and training in holiness.” —2 Tm 3:16

Praise: Praise Jesus, Whose Sacred Heart has taught us how to love. Alleluia!

 

[zarthan]

Fidelis:
Thanks, Fidelis. You answered my question regarding, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Did any of your sources reach this conclusion? If so, who are they?

May God continue to bless all your endeavors that are done according to His will.