The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today urge us to be patient and persistent in our communication with God as we struggle to be open to the Holy Spirit in our appreciation of the reality around us.
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| Being patient with change |
The reading from the Book of Exodus describes the role of community prayer in the defeat of Amalek by Israel.
* [17:8] Amalek: the Amalekites appear in the Bible as early inhabitants of southern Palestine and the Sinai peninsula prior to the appearance of the Israelites in the region. Cf. Nm 24:20.1
Psalm 121 is an assurance of God’s protection.
* [Psalm 121] A blessing given to someone embarking on a dangerous journey whether a soldier going on a campaign or a pilgrim returning home from the Temple. People look anxiously at the wooded hills. Will God protect them on their journey (Ps 121:1)? The speaker declares that God is not confined to a place or a time (Ps 121:2), that every step is guarded (Ps 121:3–4); night and day (Ps 121:5–6) God watches over their every movement (Ps 121:7–8).2
The Pastoral Letter, 2 Timothy, outlines the power of Sacred Scripture for the young leader to carry out his solemn charge.
* [4:1–5] The gravity of the obligation incumbent on Timothy to preach the word can be gauged from the solemn adjuration: in the presence of God, and of Christ coming as universal judge, and by his appearance and his kingly power (2 Tm 4:1). Patience, courage, constancy, and endurance are required despite the opposition, hostility, indifference, and defection of many to whom the truth has been preached (2 Tm 4:2–5).3
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus concludes the Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge wondering about the state of faith in Israel.
* [18:5] Strike me: the Greek verb translated as strike means “to strike under the eye” and suggests the extreme situation to which the persistence of the widow might lead. It may, however, be used here in the much weaker sense of “to wear one out.”4
Eileen Wirth comments that today’s gospel from Luke invites us to reflect on how we communicate with God. If only praying were like ordering a pizza. You tell God what you want and he delivers it.
Of course, it’s more complicated. I spent 25 years teaching students that “communication” is two-way. You have to listen as well as talk and that’s true of communicating with God. Even a seeming non-response IS a response. It’s often a way of saying I heard you but I’m not doing what you ask and I have my reasons, like a mom turning out requests for chocolate in the grocery store.
Former students who were devastated not getting a job that they had prayed for were often elated when God seemingly sent them something better. Most of us have experienced the failures that led to later success. Today’s gospel suggests that a listening, loving God answers our petitions but not necessarily in the way we seek.5
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)6
The Word Among Us Meditation on Exodus 17:8-13 comments that this story tells us that we all need support at times. It can be very tiring to keep praying. It takes a lot out of us. That’s why we can all appreciate the image of Aaron and Hur holding up Moses’ hands as he prayed for the Israelites’ victory in battle. His friends stood by him and helped him do what he couldn’t do on his own.
So don’t go it alone! Maybe you already have someone who can stand with you in prayer, a friend who will join her voice to yours as you intercede. But if not, ask the Lord for someone to partner with you. He loves to send people who will be there to hold you up.7
Suzanne Guthrie shares that anyone who takes a life of prayer seriously experiences long stretches- years, or maybe a lifetime, when “nothing happens”: no miracles, no voices or fluttering of angel wings, no perceived coincidences, no sign of reciprocity from the Divine. Like the desert monk in Meditation One… after thirty years one might be tempted to give up.
Maybe the persistence asked from us requires not only retrospection but introspection. Looking again. Opening to the moment more deeply. Listening more profoundly. Perceiving the holy behind the ordinary. The Sacred within the mundane.
Perhaps you have to be a little mad not only to pray but to pray and not lose heart.8
Friar Jude Winkler uses the passage from Exodus to encourage us in community prayer. The participation of those who have died as intercessors in prayer is frequently sought by Catholics. Friar Jude reminds us of the power of the inspired Word to reveal who God is and what He wants of us.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, wants to recognize that this week on Gender and Sexuality may challenge what we were taught about what it means to be human, made in the image and likeness of God. While younger generations are more comfortable talking about a spectrum of gender identities and sexual orientations, most of us born before 1960 were taught that there were only two genders, male and female, and only one acceptable sexual orientation: “straight.” So, I want to start by inviting you to receive these reflections through the lens of contemplation. This week is a good test case for one’s ability to think in a nondual way.
The most common human responses to a new moment, or something that does not fit neatly into one of our dualistic categories such as male or female, gay or straight, are mistrust, cynicism, fear, knee-jerk reactions, a spirit of dismissal, and overriding judgmentalism. It is so dis-couraging when we have the courage to finally see that these habits are the common ways that the ego tries to be in control of the data instead of allowing the moment to get some control over us—and teach us something new!
The Reverend Elizabeth Edman, an openly queer [1] priest in the Episcopal Church, focuses in her book Queer Virtue on “‘authentic Christianity’ as a spiritual journey that prioritizes the ancient Christian impulse to rupture simplistic binaries, especially those pertaining to the relationship between Self and Other.” [2] Edman’s book doesn’t focus on issues of sexual morality but on all the cultural and religious boundaries Jesus transgressed.9
The virtues of patience and persistence are solid support for developing faith that our contemplation of reality guided by the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to greater truth, beauty, and goodness to share with those we encounter daily.
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