The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today reassure us that God responds to our need for support that may differ from our desires.
The Reading from the Book of Wisdom cites the cooperation of creation in Israel’s deliverance.
* [18:14–16] These verses attribute to the personified “word” the actions of the Lord mentioned in Ex 12:13–17 (note the role of the “destroyer” in Ex 12:23 and compare Wis 18:22, 25). (Wisdom, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)
* [19:6] The cooperation of creation in Israel’s deliverance (vv. 7–12) under the direction of the Lord is a favorite theme; cf. 16:24–25. (Wisdom, CHAPTER 19|USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 105 invites us to praise and seek the presence of God.
* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke proclaims the Parable of the Persistent Widow.
* [18:1–14] The particularly Lucan material in the travel narrative concludes with two parables on prayer. The first (Lk 18:1–8) teaches the disciples the need of persistent prayer so that they not fall victims to apostasy (Lk 18:8). (Luke, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB, n.d.)
Jeremy Graney comments that God too reaches out to us all, expecting attention even if not outright demanding it. An ever-present whisper to reflect on, a pause before an action, or a feeling to decipher on living one’s life.
Too often do I identify with the judge, thinking that I know it all, trying to ignore and avoid that irksome voice from God, inviting me to a truer sense of my purpose. I do not want to have the fears of doubt on whether I am being my best self, asking myself if I am living my truest self - the self that was imagined by God. But God continues to show up, inviting us to look again and to have them be a part of our lives. (Graney, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Persistent prayer transforms iniquity and wickedness into mercy,” by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD).
"How was that unjust judge immoral and wicked? How was the upright judge gracious and just? The first in his iniquity was not willing to vindicate the widow, and in his wickedness, he was not willing to put her mind at rest. The justice of God knows how to vindicate, and his grace discerns how to give life. The iniquity of this wicked judge was contrary to the justice of God, and the wickedness of this rebel was in opposition to the grace of the gentle One. His wickedness therefore was stubbornness, for it dared to go against the fear of God. His boldness was stubborn, for it refused the lowly person."
"These two were stubborn, but persistent prayer was even more stubborn. The persistence of the widow humiliated both the iniquity that was rebelling against God and the boldness that was behaving arrogantly towards human beings. She subjected them to her will, so that they might provide her with a vindication over her adversary. Persistence transformed these two bitter branches, and they bore sweet fruit that was against their nature. The iniquity of the judge brought about a righteous judgment and a just retribution for the falsely accused woman. His wickedness gave peace to the afflicted one, although iniquity does not know how to judge, and wickedness does not know how to give refreshment. Persistence forced these two evil and bitter branches to give good fruit against their nature. If we persist in prayer, we should be even more able to prevail on the grace and justice of God to give us fruit that agrees with their nature. Let justice vindicate us, and let grace refresh us. Accordingly, the fruit of justice is the just reward of the oppressed, while the giving of refreshment to the afflicted is the fruit of grace." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 16.16.6) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 18:1-8 comments that we know that prayer is not supposed to be a task that we perform in order to get whatever result that we want. If that were the case, it would make sense for us to grow weary if our prayers don’t get answered in good time. But what if the persistence Jesus is looking for is the persistence of faith, not of saying enough prayers with just the right amount of intensity?
Maybe, in the end, it would be most helpful if we looked at God, our heavenly Father, as the truly persistent One! He’s the One who comes knocking on the door of our hearts every day, asking us to trust him. He’s the One who never gives up on us, even when we are praying extra hard but not saying, “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10). And he’s the One who is always asking us to answer his deepest desire—his desire for us to trust him with our whole lives!
“Lord, help me to persist in humble trusting faith.” (Meditation on Luke 18:1-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that a strange fierce warrior appears in the Wisdom passage when God intervened in Exodus and performed wonders. We should recognize God in all things around us. The Gospel of Luke urges us to persevere in prayer using a parable to show the widow who keeps nagging. God will hear when we pray, but as a loving parent, who gives what we need. We persevere and God will give us an answer. We may not receive what we want but what we need. Friar Jude encourages a spirit of chutzpah that sees God as a friend who listens to us. Jewish tradition tells us to tell God exactly what we need.
Fr. Mike Schmitz compares the story of the rich young man to the story of Zacchaeus, highlighting the difference in their willingness to follow Christ with their whole hearts. Looking at the stories of these young men, Fr. Mike invites us to reflect on our willingness to follow Christ with all that we are and all that we have. Today we read Luke 17-19 and Proverbs 26:13-16.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Randy and Edith Woodley who describe some of the different ways Native American tribes have traditionally honored the sacramental nature of reality.
Our tangible spirituality as Native Americans includes ceremonies and traditions. For instance, each year the Karuk people of northern California have an annual Earth renewal ceremony, in which they take seriously their role as humans to heal the Earth. Ceremony may be associated with personal worship and also practiced communally, such as through Earth renewal ceremonies. Ceremonies that began ages ago, as a way of recreating the seasons or renewing the Earth, have now taken on more personal meanings….
How might you think about ceremony in your own life? Have you looked into the meaning of symbols in your own ancestry? Is there a group with whom you talk about spiritual things? Could the group come up with a practice that connects you to the land or water—even something small? (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the guidance of the Spirit as we navigate the tension between patience and perseverance in presenting our needs and wants in prayer to God.
References
Graney, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved November 15, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-november-15-2025
Luke, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/18?1
Meditation on Luke 18:1-8. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved November 15, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/11/15/1429817/
Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Sacramental Reality: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 15, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/sacramental-reality-weekly-summary/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 15, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
Wisdom, CHAPTER 18 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved November 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/wisdom/18?14
Wisdom, CHAPTER 19|USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved November 15, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/wis/19?6#27019006
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