The Entrance Antiphon for this Sunday is: “I call upon you, God, for you will answer me; bend your ear and hear my words.” Today’s call is for us to pray continuously and never to lose heart, to focus our attention on the power of trusting and persevering in prayer.

St. Augustine said, “If one’s faith weakens, prayer withers …. faith is the foundation of prayer … a river cannot flow if its source is dried up”.

Do not grow weary of asking repeatedly.  Whenever we become tired of asking, let us ask our friends to help us just as Moses did in the 1st reading,  Ex 17: 12 “Moses’ hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on.  Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset.”

The Lord wants to grant us his immense graces, but He also wants us to ask for them.  Jn 16:24 reminds us, “Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”  Will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to Him day and night? He promises:  He will see justice done to them and done speedily.  Let us resolve to pray like Moses did with perseverance and at times with the help of others.  There is nothing more effective than steadfast prayer as we can see how Moses with the help of Aaron and Hur cut down Amalek and his people.

The parable in today’s Gospel presents us with two distinct characters.  One is the unjust judge who had neither fear of God nor respect for man.  The other is a widow, a defenceless person.  However, she is persistent and desires to receive justice.  Her ceaseless petitions did not go unanswered.  The judge finally relented.  The reason for her victory was simply that she had worn down the defences of the judge.  Our Lord concludes the parable with this query: Lk 18:7 “Now, will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them?”  If an unjust judge can respond to constant pressure, how much more will a great and loving God respond to us, his loving children.  We can believe He will hear our cries for help. Fidelity to God must be the engine of prayer.  God, who is full of mercy, awaits our steadfast prayer.

To persist in asking and to not give up does not mean endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions. To be in a state of always asking means keeping our requests constantly before God as we live for Him day by day, believing He will answer.  When we live by faith, we are not to give up.  God may delay answering but his delays always have good reasons.  As we persist in asking, we grow in character, faith and hope.

St. John Paul II, at the beginning of his Pontificate declared: “For me, prayer is the first priority.  Prayer is the basic prerequisite to service of the Church and the world … Every believer should always think of prayer as an essential and indispensable component of one’s vocation. Without prayer, we cannot follow Christ. We need prayer as much as we need food to satisfy our hunger, as much as we need air to breathe. We must make time for the Lord in prayer.  Our prayer, our friendship with the Lord will influence our life, our work, our family, our friendships, our apostolate.  When we talk it over with Jesus, He will give light to our understanding.  Without this light, all will be darkness.

Prayer is not simply just praying for our own needs.

Peace & Love,

Margie Choo