The need to persevere
TODAY is Sunday, the 20th of October 2019. It is the third Sunday for the month and is the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time of the
Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar.
This Sunday’s Psalm is, “Our help is from the
Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
The 1st Reading is from Exodus 17:8-13.
When the Israelites were at the Rephidim, the Amalekites came and attacked them. So Moses aid to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites in the morning. As for me, I will stand with God’s staff in my hand at the top of the hill.”
Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses has directed, while Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. It happened that when Moses raised his hands, the Israelite would win but when he lowered them, the Amalekites would have the advantage.
As Moses’ arms grew weary they placed a stone for him to sit on while Aaron and Hur on either side held up his arms which remained steadily raised until sunset. For his part Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the sword.
Today’s 2nd Reading is from 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2. As for you, continue with what you have learned, and what has been entrusted to you, knowing from whom you received it. Besides, you have known the scriptures from childhood; they will give you the wisdom that leads to salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful for teaching, refuting error, for correcting and training in Christian life. Through Scripture, the man of God is made expert and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
In the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by the hope I have of his coming, and his kingdom, I urge you to preach the word, in season and out of season, reproving, rebuking or advising, always with patience, and providing instruction. This Sunday’s Gospel is from Luke 18:1-18. Jesus told them a parable, to show them that they should pray continually, and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain town there was a judge, who neither feared God nor people. In the same town there was a widow, who kept coming to him, saying, “Defend my rights against my adversary!” For a time he refused, but finally he thought, ‘Even though I neither fear God nor care about people, this widow bothers me so much, I will see that she gets justice, then she will stop coming and wearing me out’.”
And Jesus said, “Listen to what the evil Judge says. Will God not do justice for his chosen ones, who cry for him day and night, even if he delays in answering them? I tell you, he will speedily do them justice. But, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
READ: The perseverance of Moses in the first reading in raising his hands holding God’s staff, a gesture of prayer, led to the victory of Joshua and his companions. The same lesson on perseverance is contained in the gospel reading; it will lead to answered prayers. These stories from Sacred Scriptures should instruct and teach our life of faith.
REFLECT: Prayer is central to our Christian life. St. Pal tells us (1 Thes 5:17) “pray without ceasing” which is another way of saying persevere in prayer. But we must understand that this nuance: perseverance in prayer is not demanding in prayer. While we pray to God for help, we leave to God’s will to send to us the kind of help that he deems best. Many have been blessed with the realization of
this insight. God does not always give what we ask for, but not one who approaches him in prayer left empty-handed. NB: Our usual thanks to the Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc., publisher of the book Bible Diary 2019 from where we source the Word of God that we are sharing to our fellow faithful through this column every Sunday.