20211113 PERSISTENT PRAYER
13 November, 2021, Saturday, 32nd Week, Ordinary Time
First reading |
Wisdom 18:14-16,19:6-9 © |
The Red Sea became an unimpeded way
When peaceful silence lay over all,
and night had run the half of her swift course,
down from the heavens, from the royal throne, leapt your all-powerful Word;
into the heart of a doomed land the stern warrior leapt.
Carrying your unambiguous command like a sharp sword,
he stood, and filled the universe with death;
he touched the sky, yet trod the earth.
For, to keep your children from all harm,
the whole creation, obedient to your commands,
was once more, and newly, fashioned in its nature.
Overshadowing the camp there was the cloud,
where water had been, dry land was seen to rise,
the Red Sea became an unimpeded way,
the tempestuous flood a green plain;
sheltered by your hand, the whole nation passed across,
gazing at these amazing miracles.
They were like horses at pasture,
they skipped like lambs,
singing your praises, Lord, their deliverer.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 104(105):2-3,36-37,42-43 © |
Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
or
Alleluia!
O sing to him, sing his praise;
tell all his wonderful works!
Be proud of his holy name,
let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
or
Alleluia!
He struck all the first-born in their land,
the finest flower of their sons.
He led out Israel with silver and gold.
In his tribes were none who fell behind.
Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
or
Alleluia!
For he remembered his holy word,
which he gave to Abraham his servant.
So he brought out his people with joy,
his chosen ones with shouts of rejoicing.
Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
or
Alleluia!
Gospel Acclamation | Jm1:21 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept and submit to the word
which has been planted in you
and can save your souls.
Alleluia!
Or: | cf.2Th2:14 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Through the Good News God called us
to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 18:1-8 © |
The parable of the unjust judge
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.”’
And the Lord said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’
PERSISTENT PRAYER
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Wis 18:14-16; 19:6-9; Ps 105:2-3, 36-37, 42-43; Lk 18:1-8]
In the gospel, “Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.” Prayer is one of the mysteries of life and even of faith. The argument against prayer is that since God is all knowing and He cares for us, why should we tell Him what we need? Can we change the mind of God the way we change the mind of others? Why do we have to pray and worse still, to pester Him to answer our prayers? Yet, in times of emergency and helplessness, even when we are theologically sophisticated, we cry out to Him for help. We might not understand why we need to pray, but persistent prayer certainly has helped many who are desperate. God does answer our prayers, according to the scriptures.
The basis for prayer is that Jesus Himself prays. In the gospel and especially St Luke, Jesus is often portrayed to be praying. At His baptism, when Jesus “was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'” (Lk 3:21f) Then before He chose the Twelve, “he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God.’ (Lk 6:12) And of course at the Garden of Gethsemane, “He said to the disciples, ‘Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’ Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed.” (Lk 22:40f) The letter of Hebrews described His anguish in prayer, “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” (Heb 5:7)
The truth is that prayer is not for God to hear us because as the Lord said, “When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Mt 6:7f) Prayer is more for us to be in relationship with God. We need to pray not because God needs to hear our prayers before He answers us. It is for this reason, the Lord not only set the example for us to pray, He even taught us how to pray, and urged us to pray always and never give up.
God desires to have a relationship with us. This is why Jesus taught His disciples to pray thus, “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Mt 6:9) Jesus wants us to relate with Him as a child to His Father. The God we believe and worship is not a God who is a retired architect, having created the world, and left it to function on its own according to the laws He had established. This God does not sit back like a disinterested father but continues to relate to us, and intervenes when He deems appropriate. This is true especially when His children cry out for justice. Jesus assures us that His response will be swift and certain. God does care for His creation and especially for us, His children. He hears our cries and our prayers.
God is not unjust, unlike the unjust judge in the parable. We are told that this judge “had neither fear of God nor respect for men.” But because of the persistent nagging of this widow who demanded justice against her enemy, he finally succumbed to her request saying, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give the widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.” God seeks to do us justice. God does not need us to bang on His door or whine all the time, before He would grant our request. Our God is ever ready to do justice. But God wants us to know ourselves and understand the nature of our request, which comes through persistent prayer.
God is not like Baal during the time of Elijah when the prophets of Baal called on him with loud voices. They “called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, crying, O Baal, answer us! But there was no voice, and no answer. They limped about the altar that they had made. Then they cried aloud, they cut themselves with swords and lances until the blood gushed out over them. As midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice, no answer, and no response.” (1 Kg 18:26-29) In the case of Elijah, he said a simple prayer. “Let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding. Answer me, O Lord, so that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering. (1 Kg 18:36-38)
For this reason, we must never grow weary in our prayers. God might not respond immediately because it might not be the right time yet. We need to be patient and wait. Prayers will help us to continue to be in touch with God. Vindication of the saints, as the Lord reminds us, might not be immediate. “Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?” Our Faith is tested and seen in our patience in waiting for God to act.
However, to say that God always answers our prayers does not mean that He will also answer our prayers according to what we ask. In the case of Jesus, His prayer did not save Him from death and yet the author said, “he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb 5:7-10) God gave Him the strength to do His will and endure the cross. This is because God sees and knows the outcome more than we do. He knows what is ultimately good for us, not just in this life but for our salvation. He will do justice in His own ways, if not on earth, it will be in the next life. Indeed, often justice is done only after death.
Hence, our Lord urges us to pray and persevere. He will surely vindicate His people just as He vindicated our Lord by raising Him from the dead. We should never be discouraged or grow weary in prayer. The book of Wisdom tells us that God is all merciful and all powerful. Just as He routed the Egyptians army who sought to pursue after the Hebrews, He will protect us. Just as God provided for His people in the desert, He will provide for us in our needs. But we tend to be like the Hebrews, always grumbling in the desert, complaining and whining about the non-essentials of life. We should be grateful for whatever is given to us. God will not leave us without the necessary help but we must also cooperate with Him and learn to be contented with what we have.
Indeed, like Jesus and the apostles, we must continue to engage God in unceasing prayer, especially all the more in critical moments of our lives. The early Church gathered to pray for the Holy Spirit in unceasing prayer. “All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.” (Acts 1:14) St Paul tells us to pray continually and unceasingly. (1 Th 5:17) He himself prayed in an importunate manner. “Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ.” (2 Cor 12:8-10) So continual prayer is the evidence of our faith in Him and the means to build up and strengthen our faith. For this reason, the Lord delights to hear us until He returns to vindicate us on the last day. As He said, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?” In the final analysis, prayer is the way to strengthen our faith and relationship with Him.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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