Persistence ~ Reflection on the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Ex 17:8-13

Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

2 Tim 3:14-4:2

Lk 18:1-8

The readings this week teach us one thing; and that is not to give up.  To be persistent in prayer... To be persistent in expressing our needs... To keep on keeping on!

Look at what happened in the Exodus reading:  An enemy was waging war against Israel.  As long as Moses raised up the staff of God in his hands, Israel's army was able to prevail against their enemy.  However, soon enough Moses' arms got tired and he could no longer stay in that position... Israel's enemies began to crush them.

But all was not lost, as we see that Aaron and Hur understood the situation and made sure that Moses could continue to keep his arms raised with the staff in his hands.  They brought him a rock to sit on and they supported his arms so the staff remained raised!  Their persistence paid off and Israel won the war.

Paul also understood about persistence.  In his second Letter to Timothy, Paul urged him to "... proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient..." In this way, the Word of God would be spread all over the world and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ would be brought to the people.

And then we come to the epitome of persistence:  the parable of the widow and the unjust judge.  The widow was certainly in a dire situation because she had no one to take her side against her adversary.  The unjust judge didn't feel like fulfilling the obligation of his office to render a verdict for the woman who just kept on coming back to the court again and again with the same complaint.  The widow was so persistent that finally the judge became afraid that perhaps the widow would cause him harm if he didn't do as she was asking; so he finally gave her a just decision.

Our persistence in prayer is not heard by an unjust judge.  No, just as the psalmist knew, we know our help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  He watches over us... He guards us from all evil...  He knows our coming and our going.

He loves us!



Image Source:  Claver Jesuit Ministry

     .