Cycle C - Year I:  

20 October 2019: Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading:        Exodus 17:8-13

Second Reading:   2 Timothy 3:14--4:2

Gospel:  Please Read  Luke 18:1-8

Pray without ceasing!

For Christians, it is said that "our power is prayer, and the prayer of the humble is God's weakness."  That quotation comes from Pope Francis, but of course it is just a figurative statement.  Because in God's perfection He has no weakness at all.  The Pope simply wants to say that God always listens to our prayer when we trust in Him and persevere.

Our opening discourse is the starting point, or background, of the Gospel narrative this Sunday from the evangelist St. Luke.

Our Lord Jesus Christ tells a parable of a persistent widow to teach us something about trust and perseverance when we pray to God Almighty.

In the story a defenseless widow is taken advantaged of and refused her rights.  But through her sheer persistence, she wears down an unscrupulous judge so that in the end the judge gives her justice she prays for.  So her persistence pays off.

Now Jesus is not comparing God to an unjust judge but just saying that if perseverance obtains justice from an unjust judge, how much more from a good and loving father?  Thus, the intent of the parable is to give fresh hope and confidence to the disciples as they follow our Lord Jesus in His difficult path to Calvary.

It is also applicable to us today, because in this life we can expect sufferings and adversity.  But we are not without hope in God.  For those who persevere can look forward with hope to that day when they will receive their just reward.

With this parable Jesus illustrates how God as our ultimate judge is much quicker to bring us His justice, blessings, and help when we need it, especially when we do not lose heart and persist in asking our heavenly Father for His grace and help through prayers.

So then what is "prayer"?  Let us listen and reflect on some of the most beautiful understanding of what prayer is.

 -  Pope Francis tells of "prayer as the dialogue of the soul with God."

-  Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta says that "prayer is to the soul what air is to the body.  If we take away prayer, the soul suffocates, just as the body deprived of air perishes."

-  The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines prayer as "the raising of one's mind and heart to God, or the petitions of good things from Him in accord with His will."

All these sum up that prayer is our personal and living encounter with God.  This means that prayer is relational.  Like the widow in the parable, persistence in praying cultivates and nourishes our gift of faith which deepens our trust in God's unfailing love.

But then, sometimes we are discouraged, when we are led to believe that our prayers seem not answered.  The reality is that God always listens to our prayers; it is His answers that we may not like.

Therefore, it is necessary to pray for the grace of humility so that we are able to cooperate with whatever God wants to bestow upon us, regardless of our own preferences or specific requests.

Now note that towards the end of the parable Jesus asks a probing questions for us: "But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" (Lk 18:8)

In other words, will you and I have faith that perseveres to the end, when our Lord Jesus Christ returns in glory to judge the living and the dead?

Our answer is clear, if we want to live, grow and persevere in our faith until the end, then we must nourish our faith with the word of God and the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

Today is also World Mission Sunday with the theme: "Building Ecclesial Communities is the Key to the Mission."  We pray for for all missionaries who responded to our Lord Jesus' command to proclaim  God's Kingdom here on earth.

So let us pray:  Lord, give us faith to believe Your promises, and give us perseverance and hope to withstand trials and adversities.  Help us to trust in Your unfailing love, and to find joy and contentment in You alone, O Lord. Amen.

A blessed Sunday to us all.  And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!