Word to the Wise
Saturday, November 18, 2023 - Saturday in the 32th Week in Ordinary Time
[Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9 and Luke 18:1-8]"Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily." [Luke]
These words of Jesus follow his parable of the persistent widow who nags the dishonest judge to render a verdict that she clearly merited. We are told at the beginning of the story that the parable is intended to show the "necessity for them [disciples] to pray always without becoming weary." This can be a tough parable to offer to those who have prayed long for deliverance from war, violence, illness, persecution,etc. Such was the fate of many in the time this gospel was written as well as it is the fate of many who live today. One thing that can escape notice, however, is that the widow was not a passive pray-er. She took action and kept at it, which meant, more than likely, a public demonstration of her demands. One commentator compares her to other Old Testament widows, Ruth and Tamar, who acted decisively for salvation. The widow is like another example in the Gospel According to Luke (11:5-8) in which a persistent neighbor bangs on the door of a friend at midnight to get bread for a guest.
In my pastoral experience, I have often heard a complaint to the effect, "Why pray? Nothing ever comes of it?" I have asked, "What did you do to help something come of it? What were your expectations?" Persistence is a major element in prayer, but it means more than saying prayers and setting standards for God's response. The day-in and day-out effort can be fatiguing but we have Jesus' promise that persistent effort will be rewarded. AMEN