First Reading Exodus 17: 8 – 13
8 Then came Am'alek and fought with Israel at Reph'idim.
9 And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose for us men, and go out, fight with Am'alek; tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand."
10 So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Am'alek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Am'alek prevailed.
12 But Moses' hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat upon it, and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13 And Joshua mowed down Am'alek and his people with the edge of the sword.
Second Reading 2 Timothy 3: 14 – 17 ,4: 1 – 2
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2 preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching.
Gospel Reading Luke 18: 1 – 8
1 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man;
3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, `Vindicate me against my adversary.'
4 For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, `Though I neither fear God nor regard man,
5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'"
6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says.
7 And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Commentary
Well, I can say that the First Reading talks of the prayer that never cease in spite of fatigue and exhaustion. When the Israelites assaulted the Amelicites, it is the staff of Moses which became their signal for victory. When Moses lifted up the staff, they continued winning but he got tired so the assistants used the stone to maintain the standing. The walking stick here symbolizes prayer. A prayer of a believer. It can be a prayer of the people being mentioned together while a man of God presides. Even when we are tired of praying about something we can always be sure that continuing it will still make a difference.
Very direct is the second reading where in we get to know Saint Paul speaking of Persistence to Timothy. To continue in what he learned to be right is to persist. To be persistent in teaching the word in season or out of season. Actually, the second reading is particularly meant for the priest and the bishops. All first readings from Pentecost to Christ the King are meant for individual Christians and believers who want to grow in holiness. The second readings from Pentecost to Christ the King, if you will notice, are all meant for bishops and cardinals and other ministers of the Word of God. Mostly they are taken from letters of Saint Paul to the head of the local churches like Titus, Timothy and Philemon. The second readings give us the signs of true Christian Catholic bishops, cardinals and ministers of God’s Word. So this Sunday, both an individual Christian who wants to grow in holiness and a bishop, cardinal and minister of God’s Word is being taught to be persistent. The latter by proclaiming the word and the former by praying incessantly.
The Gospel Reading, as we all know is always the summit of the two readings. It is where the two early readings are reconciled or expounded or dramatized. Jesus gives us here a drama of a person who is practically persistent. A widow who begs for justice before a judge who fear and respect no one. The widow woman is the symbol of the Catholic Church. Even when she is conscious of the judge’s character, she persisted in asking for justice. She is totally reliant on nobody because she doesn’t have a husband anymore. She solely dependent upon God and perhaps on the mercy of the judge. The judge they say is the symbol of God but I don’t think so. The judge is very much different from God. It is a symbol of human authority which sometimes is relative and twisted. This judge is a judge who can be bribed and does not intend to give justice but only willing to receive money. It may be a symbol of a worldly economic and social system or a corrupt government. What Jesus wants us to understand is; if a government and political system which is corrupt and non objective can be softened by pleas of a persistent widow who cannot give anything how much more can God who is very merciful and gracious not give in to the prayer of a persistent faithful. The idea is very much similar to the teaching of Jesus after the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11; 5 to 13
5 And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within, `Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Yes, if we humans are willing to grant someone a hand just so that person may go and we can sleep, then God even more can give us anything we ask because He is kinder, actually the kindest. So again, the lesson is… non stop prayer life.
Application
How about you? How is your prayer life? There may be times you may feel that it is worthless to pray about an intention but on the other hand, we can always ask God’s guidance as we pray about it. A real Christian does not give a yes or no answer immediately. Rather, a real Christian prays about the decision and consult the Word of God. If you are not very familiar with the Word of God then consult the men of God. There is actually lessons we can learn on the way. While waiting there may be better things that we can find. Rushing is not the rule. Waiting is a process necessary for growth. As we wait, God is filling our lives with surprises.
Let us Pray,
"Heavenly Father, you are merciful, gracious and kind. May I never doubt your love nor hesitate to seek you with confidence in order to obtain the gifts, graces, and daily provision I need to live as your disciple and child."
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