29^th 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, intolerance, 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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