29th Sunday in Ordinary Time-C
I Reading Exodus 17:8-13: : As long as Moses kept his arms raised, Israel had the
advantage.
II Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2: The
man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.
Gospel: Luke 18:1-8: God will see justice done to his chosen who cry to him.
The Parable of the Unjust Judge:
The Secret of Prayer-Persistence, Lk 18:1-8
Today’s
first reading shows, the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land, met with
powerful enemies Amalekites came from the descendants of Esau, the elder brother
of Jacob; however their most dangerous enemy was their own pride and
disobedience to Moses and God’s commands. The same type of enemy plays also
among us; we refuse to follow Christ and we stop praying and going to the
church.
The
Promised Land was the goal of the Israelites; ours is heaven “a land where truly
milk and honey flow” (Ex 3:8)promised to us by Jesus Christ. We need a powerful
weapon (the weapon of prayer) to overcome those enemies (pride, selfish
motives, exploitation, corruptions, injustice, inequality, killings, war,
terrorism, fundamentalism, immoralities etc.). we can win a battle/war through
fighting and prayer (both action and prayer) like Moses’ prayer stretching out
his hands holding the staff of God (the power of God) till the sunset; so we
must pray till the end of our life to reach our true home in heaven. We should
not be discouraged and tired of praying; but we need persevering prayer like
the widow in the Gospel. Our daily prayer must be based on the Word of God
(Scriptures) with great faith and hope in Christ. Let God speak to us through
the Scriptures and let us listen to Him attentively and remain in loving
conversation with God and let us try to do the will/plan of God. St. Paul warns
his disciple Timothy to live in devotion to Christ in the time of religious
attack and persecution and he asserts that these Scriptures provides a wisdom
that leads to salvation.
This
parable is found only in Luke; it is an encouragement to pray unceasingly that
no matter what problems beset the Church, our Lord will return. The secret of
prayer is persistence. This is the great lesson Jesus taught in this passage.
1.
The great duty to persevere in prayer (v.1)
2.
The parable of persevering prayer (v.2-5)
a.
The unjust judge
b.
The poor widow: Was all alone and persecuted
c.
The silence of the judge: He was hard and harsh
d.
The point: The judge honoured her request because she continued to come
3.
The lesson on persevering prayer (v.6-7)
a.
Hear this point
b.
God avenges the elect who persevere in prayer
c.
He waits and bears long within unbelievers; puts off justice for a while
d.
God will quickly bring about justice
4.
The great tragedy: In the last days few will persevere in prayer and faith
(v.8)
Thought: “Watch
and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the
body is weak.” (Mt 26:41)
We can be victorious
at the battle of pride, selfishness, temptation, persecution, corruption,
injustice, inequality etc always by the power of God and through our constant
prayers and good actions like Moses’ prayer and deeds.
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