October 20, 2019: Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading: Luke 8:1-8

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?”

Reflection:

Do you ever feel weary when praying? Do you want God to answer more quickly? I certainly have felt that way — felt like Moses in the first reading, needing someone to support my praying hands and heart as I come before God. 

In the gospel today Jesus reminds us that even though the earthly judge might grant the widow’s request because of her persistence, our God, our Beloved, answers because of his love for us. God reminds us about persistence because God knows how much we need that virtue in our daily lives.

Paul, in the second reading, reminds us about the virtue of being faithful, about being persistent, no matter how difficult things are. Let us remember that in our lives today it is the indwelling Spirit who holds up our praying hands and hearts, who supports us in the challenges of everyday life and helps us grow into faithful, persistent followers of Jesus.

Action:

This week when praying try to be aware that the Spirit knows how to pray when we don’t. Try to remember that God is love and that love is present for us at all times.