The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today emphasize the struggle to correct injustice is fought with persistence, prayer, courage, and patience.
The Reading from Exodus describes the Battle with Amalek.
* [17:7] Massah…Meribah: Hebrew words meaning, respectively, “the place of the test” and “the place of strife, of quarreling.”
* [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|USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 121 is a blessing given to someone embarking on a dangerous journey.
* [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 presents Paul’s Example and Teaching
* [3:10–17] Paul’s example for Timothy includes persecution, a frequent emphasis in the Pastorals. Timothy is to be steadfast to what he has been taught and to scripture. The scriptures are the source of wisdom, i.e., of belief in and loving fulfillment of God’s word revealed in Christ, through whom salvation is given.
* [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.)
* [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). (2 Timothy, CHAPTER 4, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents 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). 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.)
Rev. George Meze, SJ, comments that on September 3, 1539, Ignatius and his companions submitted a draft of the Constitution of the Society of Jesus to the Pope, only to have it rejected by Cardinal Guidiccioni.
Undismayed, Ignatius and his companions offered 4,000 Masses to obtain their goal.
God took note of the persistent masses. According to Thomas Campbell, it was only after a year that Guidiccioni took up the draft of the constitution again — he scarcely knew why — and on reading it attentively he was completely converted and hastened to report on it as follows: “Although as before, I still hold to the opinion that no new religious order should be instituted, I cannot refrain from approving this one.”
The Parable of the Persistent Widow teaches us to pray continuously. According to William Barclay, the widow symbolizes all who are poor and defenseless, yet she had one weapon—persistence. When we persist in prayer, either God grants our request or gives us a promotion: a better gift. (Meze, 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: What can we do when prayer feels hard?
Be open to receiving help from your brothers and sisters.
Rely on God.
Whenever we struggle in prayer, we can ask God for his strength.
Jesus himself intercedes for us, and the Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26). Like the widow in today’s Gospel, we can keep bothering the Lord until he comes through. He’s our loving Father. He will always help us. We are never alone!
“Lord, teach me to remain prayerful all day long!” (Meditation on Luke 18:1-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the Exodus passage describes a battle between Israelites and Amalekites and when Moses arms are lifted in prayer the Israelites progress and the power of prayer in a community is demonstrated. The text in 2 Timothy, written in the name of Paul, describes the inspiration of Scripture by God, and the truth of faith is guaranteed even if the literature is confusing. The number of women at Calvary differs among the Gospels. In addition, Mark has poor literature but Luke and John are very strong. Insistence to persist in prayer in the Gospel through this cheeky parable may imply a knack to prayer like Jewish chutzpah. Friar Jude notes we should see God as a parent that wants us to receive the things that we need rather than what we want.
Friar Jude Winkler comments the Exodus passage describes a battle between Israelites and Amalekites and when Moses arms are lifted in prayer the Israelites progress and the power of prayer in a community is demonstrated. The text in 2 Timothy, written in the name of Paul, describes the inspiration of Scripture by God, and the truth of faith is guaranteed even if the literature is confusing. The number of women at Calvary differs among the Gospels. In addition, Mark has poor literature but Luke and John are very strong. Insistence to persist in prayer in the Gospel through this cheeky parable may imply a knack to prayer like Jewish chutzpah. Friar Jude notes we should see God as a parent that wants us to receive the things that we need rather than what we want.
Fr. Mike Schmitz continues our journey in 1 Maccabees. Fr. Mike explains that this book of the Bible is unlike others because it narrates stories and events without providing any interpretation. In Sirach, Fr. Mike stresses the teaching on the power of our words and the gravity of gossip and slander. Today's readings are 1 Maccabees 11, Sirach 28-29, and Proverbs 23:9-12.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, believes it’s possible for Christianity to move toward a way of following Jesus that has much more to do with lifestyle than with belief. We don’t want to remain an institution focused on certain words and the writing of official documents. We can’t remain a church obsessed with maintaining power and illusions of innocence.
I believe the teaching of contemplation is absolutely key to embracing Christianity as a living tradition. If we settle for old patterns of habitual and reactionary thought, any new phenomenon that emerges will be just one more of the many reformations in Christianity that have characterized our entire history. The movement will quickly and predictably subdivide into unhelpful dualisms that pit themselves against one another like Catholic or Protestant, intellectual or emotional, feminist or patriarchal, activist or contemplative—instead of the wonderful holism of Jesus, a fully contemplative way of being active and involved in our suffering world.
We can be grateful and content to let our historic churches and denominations take care of the substructures and the superstructures of Christianity. Some church communities are gifted and called to that, but most are not. Our churches have trained us, grounded us, and sent us on this radical mission. We will keep one happy foot in our mother churches, but we have something else that we must do and other places that we must also stand. We have no time to walk away from anything. We want to walk toward and alongside. [2] (Exodus, CHAPTER 17|USCCB, n.d.)
We, like Timothy, who benefit from the teaching and Wisdom of Sacred Scripture, implore the Spirit to guide our transformation to accept change in our ministry and persistence in seeking justice for all people.
References
Exodus, CHAPTER 17|USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved October 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/exodus/17?8
Luke, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/18?1
Meditation on Luke 18:1-8. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved October 19, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/10/19/1410011/
Meze, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved October 19, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-19-2025
Psalms, PSALM 121. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/121?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 19, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/welcoming-change/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 19, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
2 Timothy, CHAPTER 3. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/3?14
2 Timothy, CHAPTER 4. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 19, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2timothy/4
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