Patience and persistence draws us closer to God

Wis. 18:14-16.19:6-9, Lk. 18:1-8. Today's readings offer us hope in remembering the “marvels the Lord has done” as we sing and repeat the words of the Psalmist (Ps 105). With all of the hardship, death, destruction and evil, it is vital that we remember, in gratitude, the promises that God has kept for our well-being and the promises to re-order creation in the future. Today's first reading beautifully, assertively and descriptively recounts “that creation was made over anew,” that God’s “children are preserved unharmed,” and that we are “sheltered” by the hand of God. What other times in our lives has God provided an unimpeded road when the path seemed blocked? These graces cannot be explained through coincidence but through faith — the trust that we have in God to actively work in our lives for good. Our daily duties may seem very ordinary, but it takes God’s extraordinary grace to keep at it.

This kind of daily faithfulness can be accomplished by keeping the family intact and the business afloat, or the parish functioning as a place of prayer and goodwill. In today's Gospel, Jesus addresses the paradox of seeming to be stuck in a rut and yet reaching our goal, as exemplified in the widow who kept coming to the judge, demanding her rights. Finally the judge’s patience wears out and so settles the case in her favour. The widow is a patroness of persistence. We can accomplish very much by not relenting in our daily effort to remain with God. Jesus proposes this woman as a model of faith in the face of almost insurmountable obstacles. At the end of this parable, Jesus asks: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?” Will He will find the resilient faith of the widow or, will He find, rather, that people have lost heart and lost faith? He gave this lesson about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. Our main way to keep faith in difficult times is through prayer.

May the Lord grant us the grace of final perseverance and may our homes be the dwelling place of God! Amen!! Good morning and happy weekend!!!