Pray without Ceasing ~ by Ronnie Archer

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Exodus 17:8-13
Ps. 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:2
Luke 18:1-8

Our theme for today is prayer and persistence. If we pray continuously and we feel that nothing is happening, that God is not listening to us... THAT is when we have to be persistent. God hears our prayers, but He alone, knows how and when to answer us.

In the Exodus reading we hear how Moses had the "upper hand" in the battle, as long as he could keep his hands up and on the staff of God. BUT he became weary, and he couldn't do it alone; he had to have help from Aaron and Hur to support his arms on each side. But the persistence paid off, the battle was won.

In the second reading, Paul tells Timothy to remain faithful by constantly turning to scripture. He knew WHAT he had learned and from WHOM he had learned it. Timothy was told to be persistent whether convenient or not; to convince, reprimand, and encourage through all patience and teaching.

In the Gospel from Luke 18, we hear the parable of the persistent widow, who was trying to be assured of justice for her "case". She decided to pester the dishonest judge... and she got what she knew she deserved; so HER persistence also paid off.

The judge was a dishonest judge, and he did not care about God; nor did he care about the widow, but because she kept PESTERING him, he decided to grant her, her wish.

Justice means to render a decision from facts, in fairness and righteousness; not because of feelings from persuasion, but that is exactly what the judge did... only because he was tired of the woman's annoying persistence.

God's justice isn't like that... humility, faith and persistence in prayer is what God wants of us... because of His LOVE FOR us. 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?" (Luke 18:7)

God wants humility, trust and perseverance in all qualities of prayer. God will not ALWAYS intervene immediately. He answers His faithful in HIS OWN time, we cannot make a judgement on OUR OWN terms. He knows better than we do. We have to leave things in His hands.

Pray with courage, strength, perseverance and patience... for... "With the Lord, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter: v 8)