Word to the Wise
Sunday, October 16, 2022 - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - C
[Exod 17:8-13; 2 Tim 3:14-4:2; Luke 18:1-8]I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. [2 Timothy]
PERSISTENCE seems to run through all three of the scriptures for this Sunday. Moses is able to persist in his support of the Israelites in battle, but only with the help of Aaron and Hur, who stand by him and hold up his arms! Timothy is exhorted to persist in his ministry "whether convenient or inconvenient." Jesus exhorts us to persist in our prayer like the widow who nags the judge!
I was once invited to give a day of recollection for some ladies at a parish. I decided to organize my talks around the three traditional theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. I discovered in my conversations with the women that faith and love were not their principal concern. It was HOPE! How could they get up in the morning and keep on doing what had to be done? How could they find the persistence to go on in the face of their challenges? I have just completed a retreat for clergy. They face the same kind of concern in themselves and in their parishioners!
I think we can take a tip from Moses. Get friends to help! We need the encouragement and love and support of others. My Dominican brethren and the wonderful friends from previous assignments and student friends I have at Texas Tech are the ones who hold up my arms and encourage me to persist. I try to do the same for them. The scriptures are offering encouragement today. Perhaps some of us can remember the Beatles song, "I get by with a little help from my friends!" To persist, we must count on others. AMEN