Walking with Jesus: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Sunday, October 16, 2022

Exodus 17:8-13; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2; Luke 18:1-8

There is so much I don’t understand. I enjoy reading — listening to people talk about their  interests, having experts explain what they have learned, been taught and what they have discovered in God’s world. These we can refer to as FACTS … but there is much more when we bring in our troubles, worries and fears. Wisdom figures from early ages to the present lead us in bringing our doubts and hesitations to the Ultimate Wisdom figure … the Lord … ultimate figures in extended faith beliefs … to help us understand, in short, the ways of the Spirit.

The common, ultimate question is that we just don’t know all about everything. This unknown has been labeled as mystery. In Christian theology, a mystery is a religious belief based on divine revelation — especially one regarded as beyond human understanding: the mystery of Christ, the mystery of the universe, the mystery of humanity, the mystery of me. Why did I begin? Why am I here? Will I end? There is far too much order in the universe that this has all happened by chance. If God is responsible; well then, who is God? Can I know Him?

Any reading of Scripture brings us to continued situations where people are challenged … attacked … imprisoned … hurt … tortured … killed … and we ask, Why? It’s not fair! Can’t God do anything about it? If He loves us He would! This so easily formulates a molding of a god that humans create. Since none of us is God, we stumble, fall, and give up or give in.

So who is this God who is crazy in love with us … with me … exactly the way I am now?

Today’s passage from Exodus recounts the continued journey of the tribes of Israel as they draw closer to the wilderness of Sinai, where they will receive the Covenant of Love … the Ten Commandments. Along the way they have been learning about this God, Yahweh, who is absolutely crazy in love with them. They haven’t processed this yet — they are learning — their faith is growing stronger. Bluntly: They must learn to rely on God if they are going to make the journey to the promised land successfully.  God already has satisfied their hunger with quail and manna in the desert of Sin [Exodus 16] and thirst at Maribah/Massah [Exodus 17:1-7]. Today God protects them as he did from the forces of Pharaoh. Throughout the battle, the people can see Moses on top of a hill holding the staff of God that he had used during the plagues in Egypt and in separating the waters of the Red Sea. Joshua and the tribes are victorious, but their faith is weak … still in its training stages. They have learned much by turning to God in prayer.

Paul again tells Timothy to remain faithful. Undoubtedly there are people who have claimed the Christian teachings are foolhardy, stupid and false. Paul says the teachings about God are based in the Scriptures which are inspired by God ... and God cannot lie. They give us wisdom — not worldly wisdom but wisdom for our salvation. Jesus came to show what is ahead for each person: God wants us in heaven. How do we get there? Listen to Jesus and the inspired scriptural writers.

Jesus’ story of the widow and the judge reflects two fundamentals of living a Christian faith: First, seen especially in the psalms and other places, we think God often appears to be ignoring our prayers. Even today we pray and expect God’s response NOW … I’m busy Lord, I just can’t wait. Second, living the Christian life is not easy: It is not for the lazy and complainers. It involves a conversion, a turning around to God’s way for our living. It brings out a test in each of us, as it does with the widow: Will anyone be able to be as persistent; indeed, as faithful as the widow in the face of the trials, big and small, that each of us face? Prayer works because God is faithful and will not lead His elect down. Luke puts it cleverly: When God, who is always faithful, is ready, will God find the faithful ready? Persistence is the point. A Big Point.

So I reflect on:

• So many people pray most fervently when they’re worried, me included. What sorts of problems are high on my list? Do I badger God? How does the Holy Spirit use worry to lead me to prayer?
• What happens when I worry and don’t allow the Spirit to lead me to prayer? I never liked it when Mom would say, “Offer it up for the poor souls.” What keeps me from trying this?

Sacred Space 2022 states:

“Jesus is not comparing God to an unjust judge. The parable should be read in the context of an earlier comment by Jesus: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” [Luke 11:13] So, if even the most unjust of judges will finally concede to the ceaseless petitions of a defenseless widow, then how much more will God answer our prayers!

“The parable offers hope to those among us who are perhaps reluctant to address God with our petitions. It is both an invitation and an encouragement to pray without ceasing, confident of God’s desire to respond.”