SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2017
SATURDAY IN THE THIRTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY
TIME
[Wisdom 18:14-16; 19:6-9 and Luke
18:1-8]
The Lord said, "Pay attention to
what the dishonest judge says. 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]
The evangelist
Luke was writing for a community that was experiencing
persecution for its faith. It would be normal for them to
wonder when God would deliver them from their distress.
However, Luke sets this deliverance within the context of
Jesus' second coming. The widow in the parable who nags the
judge is the key to this. It is her persistence in prayer
that is important and necessary.
Time and again in watching news reports of the latest
natural disaster or gun violence resulting in groups of
people being killed or wounded, I see communities come
together and support one another through prayer. It is this
steady emotional and spiritual support that enables them to
see their way forward. The ultimate solution to their
particular circumstances is not immediately known and won't
be known for some time, but until that resolution can be
known, the continued prayer makes all the difference.
Luke challenges the community not to give up on God's
deliverance, but that deliverance may come in ways that
occur before Jesus' second coming. We cannot know when that
occurs, but we can answer Jesus' challenge to be prepared.
Persistent prayer is a good way to stay in shape. AMEN