29th Sunday in Ordinary Time – October 19
This Sunday, Our Lord offers us the parable of the widow and the unjust judge, to show us “the necessity […] to pray always without becoming weary” (Lk 18:1). Narrated only in the Gospel of St. Luke, it portrays a defenceless woman before a wicked magistrate who fears neither God nor men.
In explaining the parable, Jesus makes it clear that the main teaching it holds concerns the Lord’s attitude towards us: “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to Him day and night? Will He be slow to answer them?” (Lk 18:7). Those who pray with faith win, because they recognize their helplessness before the Almighty and plead insistently.
St. Augustine, commenting on this passage from the Gospel, observes: “That unjust judge does not in any way allegorically represent the person of God; but yet as to how far God, who is good and just, cares for those who supplicate Him, our Lord wished the inference to be drawn from this circumstance, that not even an unjust man can despise those who assail him with unceasing petitions, even were his motive merely to avoid annoyance.”1 Our Lord is not highlighting a problem of class struggle between a powerful magistrate and a poor lady, but another struggle: that waged by the Heavenly Father for His beloved children!
In the first reading we have confirmation of this: “As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight” (Ex 17:11). The prophet’s prayer gave him a share in divine omnipotence.
Thus, it becomes clear that we must lift our eyes to Heaven, for help will come to us “from the Lord who made Heaven and earth.” Praying at all times means turning to Him both “at your coming and at your going,” that is, during temptation and trial, as well as at the moment of victory, certain that God guards us “both now and forever” (Ps 121:2, 8).
Unfortunately, many are those who forget to thank the Good Lord in times of success, and in times of failure, accuse Him of abandoning them. And looking at myself, how do I react in the face of difficulties and hardships? What is my attitude in times of victory and abundance?
Let us not forget that while prayer makes us participants in divine omnipotence, it also teaches us that we depend on God. Accordingly, we pray in the Hail Mary: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” Yes, “now and at the hour of our death,” that is, always! ◊
Notes
1 ST. AUGUSTINE. On the Sermon on the Mount. L.II, c.15, n.52.
