Twenty Nineth Sunday of the Year: C: October 16, 2022

           PERSEVERANCE  IN PRAYER

First Reading: Exodus 17: 8-13

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 3: 14 to 14:2

Gospel Reading: Luke 18: 1-8

   * First reading is from the book of Exodus. This is a description about the first battle fought by Israelites after their deliverance from Egypt. Joshua and the men of Israel are at war with Amalek. During the time of the war Moses, Aron and Hur prays for the victory of Israel. Moses prays to the Lord God with outstretched hands. Aaron and Hur support Moses to pray with persistence and eventually Joshua wins the war with Amalek. Hence Moses' prayer plays a key role in giving the Israelites their victory. 

   *Second reading is from the Second letter of St. Paul to Timothy. Paul instructs Timothy that all Scripture is inspired by God and to be used profitably for teaching, reproof, for correction and for training. He urges Timothy to preach the Word of God in season and out of season and to be zealous in preaching the message of Jesus always. 

The persistence of a widow                                                                         Today's Gospel reading is from St. Luke. Jesus explains to His disciples the need to be persevering in our prayers. He teaches them through a parable: The parable of the unjust Judge and a poor widow. This woman approaches the Judge on several occasions for justice against her adversary. The Judge refused to listen to her and to do anything about her complaints. But due to her persistence, the Judge finally decides to give her justice. Using this parable, Jesus teaches His disciples and us that we are not to lose heart when we pray to God and do not receive what we ask for. We have to be persistent in our plea to God. He assures us that God will certainly give justice to His elect who cry to Him day and night. We should try to end all our prayers with the perfect prayer: 'Thy will be done.' Let us continue to pray but leave the result to God. 

"Prayer is the oil that keeps the lamp of faith burning brightly." - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"Prayer helped me through every crisis. But I had to purify my prayer and remove from it all elements of self-seeking. I learned even to pray for my interrogators." -Walter Ciszek SJ (A Jesuit priest who spent 23 years in a concentration camp in Siberia)