The parable of the persistent widow
JLUKE 18:1-8
ESUS told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’” 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. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
REFLECTION HE WILL SEE TO IT THAT JUSTICE IS DONE FOR THEM SPEEDILY. Jesus teaches his disciples to persevere in prayer. He tells a parable of the unjust judge to drive home his point.
A poor widow keeps going to the judge to obtain justice. Though the judge is no respecter of higher authority or even of God, he is compelled to give in to her demand because of her persistent appeal. Her perseverance makes the judge deliver a just decision for her. There is no way out for the judge to preserve his peace except to give in.
Jesus teaches that God performs much better than the unjust judge (no comparison actually). When we constantly pray, with no letup, God will readily secure justice for us. He will speedily grant our petitions.
Jesus wants us to keep on praying. If we stop, we will forfeit our privilege to be heard always in our prayers. We may ask, “Does not God know our needs? Why should we keep on repeating as if God takes pleasure in our naggings? Till when do we have to pray?”
Jesus has the answer at the end. Unceasing prayer is a sign of faith. Jesus wants faith alive in each of us until he comes again.
We should pray until the end to obtain justice that is none other than eternal life.
SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2018,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.