Persistence in Prayer

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday, 32nd Week in Ordinary Time Year II, November 14th, 2020

Texts: 3 John 5-8; Ps. 112:1b-6; Luke 18:1-8

Jesus Christ, in today's gospel reading, tells us a story in which a widow's persistence got her justice from a judge. She disturbed the peace of the judge with her persistence and in order to have peace the judge gave her justice she demanded for. Jesus asks us to pray with persistence like the widow. But does it mean that our persistence disturbs the peace of God like the widow's persistence does to the judge? Our persistence never disturbs the peace of God; it shows how strong our faith is and how firm our hope is. It also shows our firm trust in God's love. When we persist in prayer, it shows we trust in God, it affirms our belief that he is able to do it.

Persistence in prayer shows how much hope we place in God; we have hope that, no matter what, he will do it. Persistence does not only show we have hope in God, it also strengthens the hope.

When we persist in prayer, we show our faith in God's love for us; it shows we believe that, though he delays in doing it, it is not because he is powerless but because he loves us and wants to save us from something we do not know.

Our persistence in prayer affirms that we have faith in God's time. It teaches us to wait on God and accept his time. It also enhances our relationship with God because it makes us to be committed to God, in spite of challenges. Hence, it strengthens the bond between us and God.

St. John, in the first reading, invites us to assist whoever engages in good course and thereby becomes fellow workers in the good course. He says, "So we ought to support such men, that we may be fellow workers in the truth." We can become fellow workers in good course by giving good advice, by giving encouragement and assurance, by providing material support, and by prayer. We are to persist in good works, in whatever form or means.

Lord our God, we pray that you grant us the spirit of perseverance in faith, hope and works of love. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke