In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable on the need to pray always. “Crying day and night” to God! This image of prayer is significant but raises some questions in our minds: Why does God want this? Doesn’t he already know what we need? What does it mean to “insist” with God?
God invites us to pray insistently, not because he is unaware of our needs or not listening to us. On the contrary, prayer is our conversation with a dear friend who moves with us in good and bad times. On our daily journey, especially in times of difficulty, in the battle against evil, the Lord is not far away; instead, he is by our side. Therefore, prayer is a reassurance of the constant companionship of God. How comforting to have a good friend to be at our side in our joys and sorrows! And we will not remain silent when a friend stands by.
The battle against evil is long and hard; it requires patience and endurance, like Moses, who had to keep his arms outstretched for the people to prevail (cf Ex 17:8-13). There is a battle to be waged each day in the life of a Christian, but God is our ally fighting with us, faith in him is our strength, and prayer is the expression of this faith.
The widow in today’s Gospel is consistent with her pleading for justice without growing weary. In the Bible, a widow symbolises a defenceless person exposed to abuse, who cannot appeal to anyone but the Lord.
At the time of Jesus, as it happens today, injustice was rampant in oppressive political, social, and religious systems. Today it is represented by abuses and fraudulence at the cost of the poorest. What do we do in these situations? Here is the message of the parable: pray.
How to pray always? Prayer should not be identified with monotonous repetition of some formulae. Even God may be annoyed if our prayers are not expressions of an authentic sentiment of the heart (cf. Am 5:23). Jesus calls the disciples’ attention not to pray as the pagans.
To pray always means not to take any decisions without first consulting him. The image of Moses with his outstretched arms in the First Reading, praying for his people, teaches a great lesson on consistency in prayer. When we let down our arms, when we are weary in prayer, the enemies of life and freedom would immediately take the upper hand. These enemies are passions, uncontrolled impulses, and instinctive reactions that create conditions for foolish choices.
“But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Is Jesus himself expressing doubts about the success of his mission? Certainly not! The Gospel addresses the persecuted Christians of Luke’s community. The evangelist wants to answer their faith dilemma.
The widow of the parable is the community of Luke – the Church whose Spouse is taken away. She does not know the day or the hour of the return of the Lord and that each day, with insistence, she pleads: “Come Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).
For your reflection:
A major temptation of Christians is to give up and lose hope in the face of injustices and a long wait for the Spouse.
Father Josekutty Mathew CMF
