29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Ex 17:8-13; Tim 3:14-4:2; Lk 18:1-8

Jesus knows that sometimes people get tired of praying for something over and over again without any apparent results. And so, by way of a parable, he challenges his followers to persevere in prayer and not to lose heart.

This Sunday’s parable is about a callous judge and a poor widow who is seeking for justice. The judge is the epitome of power, but he has no sense of personal responsibility to God and people. The widow represents the depth of powerlessness and helplessness. The truth may be on the widow’s side, but she has no resources to fight her case. Ironically, her only chance of getting justice is to ask help from this ruthless, indifferent judge. For some time the judge ignores the widow’s request. But she is so persistent and continues to seek the help of the judge. In the end, the judge decides to give in to the widow’s appeal thinking that this is the only way to stop her from disturbing him again.

To drive home the main point of the parable, Jesus says: “If that cruel judge finally gave in to the appeal of the widow because of her sheer determination, how much more will the heavenly Father readily answer the incessant prayers of his children?”

There are two things that we need to clarify here. First, let us remember that God is not like the unjust judge. We don’t need to beg him to death in order get the things we ask for. Rather, God is like a loving Father who never gets tired of the never-ending requests of his children. And second, let us not forget that we are not exactly like the widow in the parable who counts for nothing in the eyes of the judge. In contrast, we are God’s children and we remain precious in his eyes.

And yet, after all that is being said above, the troubling question remain: Why do we need to implore and wait at all when we pray? In his book entitled His Word Resounds, Fr. Albert Cylwicki gives us three possible explanations.

First, God may choose to delay in answering our prayers so as to purify our intentions. What are we asking for in our prayers? Are they things essential to life? Or are they things that we merely desire? What we pray for may be a beautiful thing but it might only make us more selfish and proud.

Second, the Heavenly Father may decide to postpone the answer to our request in order to intensify our desire. Where there is little desire on our part, we hardly succeed in our endeavors. But where there is intense aspiration, we often reach the heights of excellence.

And finally, God may take time in responding to our prayers to make us appreciate his gifts more. Isn’t it true that God’s gifts are valued more when we have to wait for them?

There are many things that we cannot fully understand. God’s ways are not our ways; he sees not as we see. We, however, trust that being a loving Father, God will only think and do what is best for each one of us.

An unknown author writes a beautiful poem about prayer:

Just close your eyes and open your heart,

And feel your worries and cares depart.

Just yield yourself to the Father above,

And let Him hold you secure in His love.

For life on earth grows more involved,

With endless problems that can’t be solved.

But God only asks us to do our best,

Then He will take over and finish the rest.

So when you are tired, discouraged and blue,

There is always, one door open to you,

And that is door to the House of Prayer,

And you’ll find God waiting to meet you there.

And the House of Prayer is no further away,

Than the quiet spot where you kneel and pray,

For the heart is a temple when God is there,

As we place ourselves in His loving care.

And he hears every prayer and answers each one,

When we pray in His name they will be done.

The burdens that seemed to heavy to bear,

Are lifted away on wings of prayer.