The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today reveal the fruits of persistence that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit graces our Baptismal prophetic vocation.
In the reading from the Book of Exodus, Amalek attacks Israel and is defeated.
* [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. (Exodus, CHAPTER 17, n.d.)
Psalm 121 gives 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). (Psalms, PSALM 121, n.d.)
The reading from the Second Letter to Timothy expresses a solemn charge.
* [3:16–17] Useful for teaching…every good work: because as God’s word the scriptures share his divine authority. It is exercised through those who are ministers of the word.
* [3:16] All scripture is inspired by God: this could possibly also be translated, “All scripture inspired by God is useful for….” In this classic reference to inspiration, God is its principal author, with the writer as the human collaborator. Thus the scriptures are the word of God in human language. See also 2 Pt 1:20–21. (2 Timothy, CHAPTER 3, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents the Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge.
* [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). The second (Lk 18:9–14) condemns the self-righteous, critical attitude of the Pharisee and teaches that the fundamental attitude of the Christian disciple must be the recognition of sinfulness and complete dependence on God’s graciousness. The second parable recalls the story of the pardoning of the sinful woman (Lk 7:36–50) where a similar contrast is presented between the critical attitude of the Pharisee Simon and the love shown by the pardoned sinner.
* [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.” (Luke, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)
Mary Lee Brock comments that the widow in the parable shared by Jesus in the Gospel from Luke is the ultimate “no quitter.” Her persistence in her requests to the hard-hearted judge is impressive. She is strong, courageous, purposeful and focused.
I wonder what it might be like if I approached my prayer life with such strength, courage, purpose and focus. As I listen to what Jesus is attempting to teach about prayer through this parable, I feel comforted by today’s responsorial psalm: Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Rather than try to figure out the perfect way to pray or the perfect time to pray or the perfect structure of my prayers, I simply need to put my trust in God to support my desire to pray. I am comforted by that support and am inspired to be as persistent as the widow.
St Ignatius had a lot to say about prayer. In the Spiritual Exercises St Ignatius tells us that before we even begin to pray, we should “Ask God our Lord for what I want and desire.” Being attentive and asking for a grace, a desire, helps me listen more deeply to God. Beginning my prayer by asking for a grace reminds me that prayer is not a high-powered negotiation session for a particular request but rather a rich conversation with God. (Brock, 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 asks how do we handle unanswered prayers? This is one of life’s hardest questions. Even Jesus prayed that his “cup” of suffering would pass—and it didn’t (Matthew 26:39). He prayed for all believers to be one—and we aren’t (John 17:21). Even so, Jesus tells us to pray always and not grow weary because in the end, God will see that justice is done (Luke 18:1, 7).
So like Jesus, we can keep bringing our prayers to God. Like him, we can hold on to God’s love and trust him. And like Jesus, we can persist in surrendering to God’s ways, even when we don’t understand. “Not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39).
Jesus knows that none of this is easy. But the God who sent angels to comfort Jesus will strengthen you. And one day he will bring you into his presence. So until then, keep praying. Trust and hope in the Lord who will make all things new.
“Lord, in your goodness, answer me.” (Meditation on Luke 18:1-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler underlines from the example of Aaron and Hur how we need the support of a praying community. The Holy Spirit placed emphasis and inspired the words of the authors of Scripture. We need to read and study the context to ponder the confusion, contradiction and grammatical errors we encounter. Friar Jude reminds us of the powerful chutzpah that often accompanies traditional Hebrew prayer.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that the work of justice is rooted in the prophetic tradition of the Hebrew Scriptures. Christianity has given little energy to prophecy, which Paul identifies as the second most important charism for building the church (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11). Too often, when Christians talk about prophecy, we think prophets make predictions about the future. In fact, prophets say exactly the opposite! They insist the future is highly contingent on the now.
The prophets ultimately reveal a God who is “the God of the Sufferers” in the words of Jewish philosopher Martin Buber (1878–1965). [1] I’d like to put it this way: it is not that we go out preaching hard and difficult messages, and then people mistreat and marginalize us for being such prophets (although that might happen). Rather, when we go to the stories of the prophets and of Jesus himself, we discover the biblical pattern is just the opposite! When we find ourselves wounded and marginalized, and we allow that suffering to teach us, we can become prophets. When we repeatedly experience the faithfulness, the mercy, and the forgiveness of God, then our prophetic voice emerges. That’s the training school. That’s where we learn how to speak the truth.
The prophets were always these wonderful people who went to wounded places. They went to where the suffering was, to the people who were excluded from the system. They saw through the idolatries at the center of the system because those who are excluded from the system always reveal the operating beliefs of that system. Speaking the truth for the sake of healing and wholeness is then prophetic because the “powers that be” that benefit from the system cannot tolerate certain revelations. They cannot tolerate the truths that the marginalized—the broken, the wounded, and the homeless—always reveal. (Rohr, 2022)
We reflect on our journey to appreciate the persistent themes in which we seek fullness of life for our community.
References
Brock, M. L. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/101622.html
Exodus, CHAPTER 17. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/17?8
Luke, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/18?1
Meditation on Luke 18:1-8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://wau.org/meditations/2022/10/16/513175/
Psalms, PSALM 121. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/121?1
Rohr, R. (2022, October 16). The Example of the Prophets — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-example-of-the-prophets-2022-10-16/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2022&date=oct16
2 Timothy, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/3?14
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