Luke 18: 1-8
Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Remaining Faithful
What happens when we pray for something over a long period of time? We may begin with a very specific request. We know exactly what we want God to do. As we continue praying, something can begin to change, especially when God's response isn't what we expected, or when there seems to be no response at all.
Our circumstances may remain the same, but our understanding, our patience, and our willingness to trust God can grow. We don't always recognize this change while it's happening.
We don't persevere in prayer because God is reluctant to listen. We persevere because we are learning to trust that God is listening. The unjust judge needs to be worn down by the widow's persistence. God does not.
Notice how Luke has Jesus conclude the Gospel. He doesn't ask whether God will listen to our prayers. He asks whether he will find faith. Will we continue to pray, trust, and remain faithful even when we don't see right away the results we hoped for?
—Jim Bozik is a permanent deacon and Associate for Pastoral Ministry at St. Peter Catholic Church, the Jesuit church in the Diocese of Charlotte, NC.
Prayer
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away;
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.
—St. Teresa of Avila
Pray with the Pope
