A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.' For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'" The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. 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? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
REFLECTION:
“But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Growing up in the country gave us the opportunity to make our own fun. My uncle gifted his eleven nieces and nephews with a cement front porch, better known to us as a stoop, which ran the length of the house. We played many hours on that covered porch, especially if it rained. One of our favorite activities was roller skating. No one knew of blade roller skating back then, but we still had the thrill of whizzing past on our four-wheeled skates to the other end of the porch. However, I had no natural talent on skates and fell countless times. It always hurt and sometimes I needed ice or a bandaid. Once I got the hang of it and had faith in my own ability, I could enjoy the exhilarating sensation of skating.
When I think back, my effort of learning to skate was painful and took some time. As an adult, I wonder why I ever did it. I guess deep down I knew success in skating would be worth it. My childhood lessons helped me learn perseverance, which I am applying to my prayer life. In prayer, perseverance is needed for a seemingly painful process of letting go in order to give prayers to God. It is really the only way God can use our prayers. All prayers are meant to give Him glory and not for our own benefit. He can’t force Himself on us. That would be in direct opposition to the essence of God, so we must pray in faith to give God glory.
We are chosen by God to serve Him with good works, especially by offering prayers of thanksgiving, adoration, contrition and petition. Our never-give-up attitude can be a true test of time that will always be heard by God. It can build our faith, leading us to know God, so that when Jesus comes again, He will “find faith on earth”. Let us encourage one another to pray, especially for priests. May they teach truth to their flocks and lead us to pray, without ceasing, from the heart.
