The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Today's Reflections

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

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Lk 18:1-8

¹[Jesus told his disciples] a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, ²“There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. ³And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ ⁴For 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, ⁵because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’ ” ⁶The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. ⁷Will 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? ⁸I 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:

There was a judge. The Gospel presents two different characters: the judge and the widow. The judge has authority and power but is not just and moral. He is not the protector of the poor and defender of widows that he is supposed to be.

The widow, on the other hand, is powerless, without anyone to support or protect her. But she has persistence.

Jesus tells us that if good can be achieved from an unjust judge through persistence, how much more from our ever loving and caring God? It is unthinkable that the Lord will not listen to our prayers. God will never ignore us, but we must be persevering and persistent in our prayers, like the widow in the parable. We must not give up. We remember that God will always act on our behalf. We must wait patiently, pray fervently, and see how God will work wonders.

Have you been surprised by the Lord

who grants your wishes

but more than you can imagine?