29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 16, 2022

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What is prayer for? What does perseverance in prayer mean to me?

Luke 18: 1–8

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Music Meditations

  • My God, My God, Why (Psalm 22)—Psalm Project
  • The Lord’s Prayer—Andrea Bocelli
  • Kyrie Eleison—Chris Tomlin and others
  • Lord, I Need You—Matt Maher
  • Prayer of St. Francis

Companions for the Journey

From “First Impressions, 2019”:

We need to be wary of today’s parable of the widow and the unjust judge, lest we convey a false image of God. (Remember the command, “Thou shall not have strange gods before me.”) Well, if we are not careful, we are liable to imagine a “strange god” and even seem to make what we say sound legitimate or backed up by this parable.

The trap lies in our modern tendency to be too literal. By that I mean, we tend to miss the imaginative aspects of these parables and apply a strict formula to them in our interpretation. It goes something like this: the judge is God and we are the widows. So, like the widow we need to pray incessantly if we want to get what we want from God. Keep at it, God will eventually give in – isn’t that what the parable seems to imply? This, or similar ways of interpreting parables, treats them as allegories – not parables. Look what such an interpretation does to our faith: it paints God as hard-hearted and our constant prayer like water dripping on the stone heart of a reluctant God, hoping to eventually wear God down on our behalf. Remember too that the judge in the parable is unjust – making it even more dangerous to allegorize this parable, lest God take on the features of this judge in our imaginations.

If God gets so misrepresented then we, who are praying earnestly and even desperately for something, are made to feel doubly alone, with no one on our side against the Almighty and seeming-reluctant God. If this is what we infer from this parable, no matter how unintentionally, then we will have created a “strange god” indeed! Certainly not the God of Jesus’ words and actions. This false image will only reinforce an old stereotype of a God so offended by our sin, that God would punish us severely, were it not for Jesus, God’s beloved child who, by his faithfulness and sacrifice, stays God’s angry hand. This makes God sound schizophrenic – partially with us in Jesus, but ill-disposed as our Creator – with the Holy Spirit going back and forth between us humans and the two trying to tie up the loose ends.

Even if we didn’t have the citation telling us that this is a parable from Luke’s gospel, we could easily guess its authorship. The parable has the signs of a Lucan tale, for again, we hear his often-repeated themes about the poor, women and prayer. Widows were especially vulnerable in biblical times and in the scriptures we often hear the reference to “widows and orphans” – two particularly defenseless and needy groups. A widow would be dependent on her sons, or a close male relative to take care of her. She was especially vulnerable if the responsible males were indifferent to her welfare, or worse, had defrauded her. In such situations a widow would have recourse to a judge who was supposed to protect the rights of widows and the poor. But the judge to whom our widow turns has no regard for her plight and “neither feared God nor respected any human being.” What chance would she have against a judge like this who disregards the basic commandments about God and neighbor? The cards are stacked against her and things look pretty grim for her ever getting her due.

But this is no ordinary widow! She confronts the judge using the only things she has on her side – her voice and her persistence. What she wants is justice, but from a judge who is not in the least bit interested in giving it to her. The only recourse she would normally have had is not in the least bit interested in her just cause. But by her persistence she wears down the judge who finally gives in to her. Don’t you find it amusing to hear the judge’s fear that a widow is going to come and “strike” him? The original language suggests that he is afraid she will give him a black eye. I hear Jesus’ listeners, so often denied their own rights before the rich and powerful, chuckling as Jesus paints this picture of a “dangerous” widow who will give a good boxing to a corrupt male judge.

This is one of those “how-much-more parables.” Jesus paints a picture of a despicable judge who eventually gives in to the persistent demands of the widow. It is as if he is saying, “If this kind of a person eventually responds, how much more will God?” Why? Because God is not turned against us and will “secure the rights” of God’s chosen. Of course, our struggle lies in the fact that so much in our world is unjust, especially for the disenfranchised. We pray for things to be put right and even pray that we can help make them so. Yet often, conditions don’t improve, sometimes they even get worse. Doesn’t that make you want to despair of every seeing things righted? So, we are tempted to cease our works and quite our prayers. “What’s the use?”, we lament. Even when things improve a bit there still is an enormous mountain of wrongs to address – in our homes, church, community and world. We feel our efforts are so puny and so we are tempted to withdraw back into our private world saying, “What difference can I make?”

Such feelings tempt us to quit our efforts at prayer and works on behalf of God’s reign. Jesus expresses how serious the issues are, how powerful the forces against us are and seems to worry about the effects on his disciples. He asks, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Not an idle, or speculative question, but one that is based on the experiences of the church from its beginnings: disciples have hard work and prayer to do until the Lord returns and the wait, without immediate signs of “success,” can disillusion us and threaten our faith.

If we are looking for an image of the divine in this parable and don’t find it in the judge, is there another possibility? Here is another approach by the New Testament scholar Barbara Reid (Parables For Preachers: The Gospel of Luke, Year C. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2000.). She suggests finding the God-like figure in the widow who persistently pursues injustice, denouncing it until justice is achieved. This interpretation is consistent with the New Testament message that power is found in weakness. A conclusion we would draw for ourselves then is that if this is the God in whose image we are made, then we too should tirelessly pursue justice even if it is against more powerful forces than we can muster.

I like the first reading’s image for prayer. As powerful and exemplary a model of faith Moses was during hard times, nevertheless, as the battle against Amalek wears on, Moses’ raised hands “grew tired.” We can identify with that fatigue, we who find it hard to keep our hands raised in prayer as life tries to wear us down. Even Moses needed help. So, Aaron and Hur support his hands, “one on one side and one on the other, so his hands remained steady till sunset.” We all need help in our struggles against evil forces and in our desire to stay faithful in hard times.

Look around at those who worship with us at this Eucharist. We see the elderly, even infirmed, here – still praying. We know of those who can’t get out of bed to come to church, but we also know they are praying and staying faithful. They give strength and determination to our faltering prayer, they help keep our hands “raised.” Perhaps someone notices us here at worship. We don’t think of ourselves as great models of faith, but who knows what straggling soul at prayer is helped by seeing us here? We may be helping them keep their faltering and tired hands “raised” in hope and prayer.

Further reading:

Weekly Memorization

Taken from the gospel for today’s session…

Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?

Living the Good News

What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?

Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:

Reflection Questions

What do you find admirable about this powerless widow? The widow’s plight calls to mind those who are deprived of justice in our own society. What is our obligation in social justice to speak up and advocate for those who have no one to advocate for them? Do we rely on God alone to render justice, or do we have a role to play in condemning hatred, killing, abuse of the poor and the down trodden, and other evils? How often are our prayers “begging prayers” asking God to make something happen that we need or that will make us happy? How does God answer “competing” prayers (Please make my candidate, my side, my proposal, etc. win….) from people? What is prayer for? Do you have a favorite prayer? When we pray, are we real and honest with God, or do we put on our party manners and only murmur pleasantries to God? Do we say only “ canned” prayers that we have learned as children? When are they helpful? When are they not enough? Prayer is talking with something or anything with which we seek union, even if we are bitter, insane, or broken. Says Anne Lamott in her book: Help Thanks Wow: The three Essential Prayers. She says that we may not even be able to get it together when we show up in such miserable shape. She goes on to say “My belief is when you are tng the truth, you’reclose to God. If you say to God, ‘I am exhausted and depressed beyond words, and I don’t like you at all right now’….that might be the most honest thing you’ve ever said.” Do you agree with her? Is that scary? Blasphemous? Do we ever think that what we are concerned about or need is too petty for God’s attention? What does that say to us about God’s love--that God only cares about world catastrophes, but doesn’t give a fig about our miserable little sorrows, burdens and worries? “Three terrible truths of existence: we are so ruined, and so loved, and in charge of so little.” How can this revelation lead us to honest prayer? Something to be said for keeping prayers simple. What is your idea of simple prayer? Is simply praying “I need help with this, my friend” a good place to start? Can we pray by asking “Is anyone there? Is anyone listening?” Do I pray for things around me to be changed to fit my plans/hopes, or do I pray to be changed myself--say, in order to cope with what I encounter and make me a better person for it? “Three things I cannot change: the past, the truth, and someone else.” (adapted from Anne Lamott) How many times have I pleaded with God to change or alter one of those realities? How did that work out? When I realized that what I was actually praying for was an impossibility, did I hit the re-set button? Have I ever thrown a tantrum and let God know I was mighty angry over something? Is this ok? Do I ever pray for God to do something for me? (I do, a little….well, maybe a lot!) Do I ever pray for miracles? How do I feel if they do not happen? How do I feel if they do happen? What happens when my prayer is not answered, or not answered in the way I want? Do I get angry at God? Do I give up? What do I think Jesus would encourage me to do based on this parable? Do I ever try to manipulate God? Say, by overstating my case, or by promising to give up something I really like? Why might I think that punishing myself would make God happy and more inclined to listen to me? As a result of prayer, have I become more kind, more generous, more understanding, kinder to myself and others?

Meditations

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:

(This is taken from "First Impressions", a service of the Southern Dominican Province for 29 Sunday C 2019):

The widow’s plight calls to mind those who are deprived of justice in our own society.  As elections draw near, whose voices are going to be heard by both politicians and voters?  Whose interests will be at the top of the list? Will the voices of the poor and powerless be outshouted by individuals and special interest groups who have more financial or voting power?  It would be a rare election indeed if this didn’t happen.  Most often the poor, minorities, immigrants, homeless, infirmed, aged and very young are not first on the minds of those running for office, or those casting votes.  We can hear the widow’s voice in another way, for now she is speaking for those in our society who are not heard despite their just and desperate need.  Will her voice be heard today by city planners deciding where to put a new power plant, city dump, petro-chemical plant, refinery?  Who will influence municipal and federal governments when decisions are being made about which homes will be destroyed to build a super highway?  Picture the widow standing among those disenfranchised at our borders and hear her voice, “Render a just decision for [us] against [our] adversary.” What is the role of prayer, generally, in social justice situations? What is my role, generally, in social justice situations?

A Meditation in the Augustinian Style/Relationship:

Here is a prayer from a spiritual writer:

Hi God, I am just a mess. It is all hopeless What else is new? Would be sick of me, if I were you, But miraculously, you are not, I know I have no control over other people's lives, and I hate this. Yet I believe that if I accept this and surrender, you will meet me wherever I am. Wow, can this be true? If am, how is this afternoon--say, two-ish? Thank you in advance for your company and blessings. You have never let me down. Amen

Get out a journal, and write your very own prayer, seeking God's help in your life. Be real. Be honest. Be persistent. On small pieces of paper, write down all the things that you are worried about right now. All of them. Then put them in a sealed envelope, or a locked box where you can't get your sticky little fingers on them, and then let God do the work. You just might become unstuck yourself…..

A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:

Let us take some few minute and ask ourselves about our own prayer life: What part of my personal prayer is asking for what I want? What part of my personal prayer shares with God exactly how I am feeling? What part of my personal prayer is formal, using words and phrases I have memorized, or pray on Sundays? What part of my personal prayer is about trust, open to new adventures? What part of my personal prayer is a plea for mercy, because I have fallen short of my ideals? What part of my personal prayer is thanking God for all that has happened and is happening to me in my life? What part of my prayer is about awe at God's generosity to me and to the world? What part of my prayer is about surrender, saying "Amen", or "Let it be as you say"

Can I find the time to spend 1% of every day in prayer? (That's 15 minutes a day, folks)

Poetic Reflection:

Mary Oliver was a very spiritual person, and I suspect, a prayerful person. For example, her book Thirst, is a small gem of prayerfulness, Here are a couple of her poems on the subject of prayer. Do you have your own favorite?

“Praying”

It doesn’t have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones, just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don’t try
to make them elaborate, this isn’t
a contest, but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

“Making the House Ready for the Lord”

Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but
still nothing is as shining as it should be
for you. Under the sink, for example, is an
uproar of mice—it is the season of their
many children. What shall I do? And under the eaves
and through the walls the squirrels
have gnawed their ragged entrances—but it is the season
when they need shelter, so what shall I do? And
the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard
while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow;
what shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling
in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly
up the path, to the door. And still I believe you will
come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox,
the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know
that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,
as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.