Twenty-Ninth Sunday Year C
Persistence in Prayer and Preaching (PPP)
Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok
§ Exod 17:18-13;
§ Ps 121:1-8;
§ 2 Tim 3:14–4:2
§ Luke 18:1-8
Today we are called to celebrate and reflect on what I may called, “Persistence in Prayer and Preaching” the word of God (PPP). There is power in prayer of intercession, rooted in the scriptures; praying for one another, for the church and for the community, at large. And this must done without weariness.
We see this in the first reading of today at the battle of Raphidim between the Israelite and the Amelekites. While Joshua physically led the charge Moses stood on the top of the mountain with the staff of God supported by Aaron and Hur. The story is quite dramatic. As long as Moses raised and stretched his hands, in prayers, and of course with the support of Aaron and Hur the Israelite prevailed in the battled. But each time he lowered his hands perhaps because of human fatigue, the Amelekites seemed to have prevailed.
The point here, if I may reiterate, is the power of prayer, and the need to support and pray for one another always. No one is an Island. We ought to constantly support one another in prayers without weariness, knowing that God is always there for us. Even the life of Jesus as you know was marked with prayer and preaching.
Take for example, Jesus began his journey to Jerusalem in Luke 9:51. On this journey, he taught the community particularly his disciples many things. He preached charity. He preached modesty. He preached forgiveness and inclusiveness. He taught his disciples how to be compassionate to everyone including those we consider foreigners (Luke 10). He also taught them how to pray (Luke 11). He taught them how to be vigilant and courageous in preaching the word of God; as well as how to be accountable and responsible in dealing with one another (Luke 12:48), since “to whom much is given much is also expected.” He called for repentance (Luke 13). He healed the sick (Luke 14). In the parable of the lost sheep, coin and son he taught them how to reach out for one another (Luke 15), especially the poor (Luke 16). He warned against giving into temptation (Luke 17) and reiterates in the parable of the persistent widow of today’s Gospel, the power of persistence in prayer without weariness.
This power of prayer told in the passage of the Scripture be it in the first reading or in the Gospel parable of today, are all God’s words that endure forever. It does not wear out. It does not fade. It does not disappoint. We can always learn from that out-stretched hands of Moses; that symbolism of prayer. We can always learn from the supporting roles of Aaron and Hur. We can always learn from Christ's parables and teachings. We can always learn from the persistence of that Widow. Those faith stories told in the scriptures live on.
This is what Saint Paul reminds us of in the Second Reading (2 Tim 3:14–4:2), “all scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (cf. 1 Pet 1:25; 2 Pet 1:19-21; Isa 40:8 and Verbum Domini, n.1). Paul charges us to be persistent in proclaiming and leaving this word in good times in bad times. But importantly, with patience, knowing that if that unjust judge could listen to the persistent widow, our God who is just and righteous, certainly, would listen to each and every one us “day and night” ( Luke 18:7).
In every situation of our lives (illness, family crisis, frustration, betrayal, loss of jobs, poverty and even in successes etc) we want to be aware of this. We want to be there for one another, your next door neighbor, and your community member. Above all, we want to always, remember PPP- Persistence in Prayer and Preaching the Word of God- and return to God in our needs and thanksgiving, knowing fully well that, all our help is from the Lord who made heaven and earth ( Ps 121:1-8).
Reflection Questions
1. What lessons have we learned from today’s scripture passages?
2. Do we believe that the staff of God is with us?
3. Are we persistent in our prayers?
Twenty-Ninth
Sunday Year C
God's Staff is with Us
Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok
§ Exod 17:18-13;
§ Ps 121:1-8;
§ 2 Tim 3:14–4:2
§ Luke 18:1-8
God is with us in our life’s journeys, in many ways. In the
prayer we consistently prayer; in the staff (matah) of our good leaders consistently raised; in the bread
and wine we share, and in the Word of God we preach, meditate upon, and share
(2 Tim 3:14–4:2), day in day out.
In the first reading of today (Exod 17:8-13) as the
Israelite were physically battling their way to the promise land, God was
spiritually fighting for them, against the Amelekites
in Raphidim. Interesting saving story. While Joshua physically led
the charge, Moses stood on the top of the mountain with the staff of God, in a
raising posture, supported by Aaron and Hur. By the way, a Staff is a
symbol of God’s saving power, as we saw in the crossing of the red sea (Exod
15), a symbol of God’s presence, his love, his sovereignty, and saving power.
What a divine drama here. In this battle, as long as Moses raises
the staff and of course with the support of others, Aaron and Hur,
the Israelite prevails in the battle. Each time Moses lowers his hands perhaps
because of human fatigue, the Amelekites prevails. One of the lessons
here is that we can only prevails in whatever we do when we call upon the
name of the Lord; when we not only trust in God and pray to him, but when
we do it selflessly, supporting one another.
We learn this also from Jesus. In Jesus’s days, as he set
out on his missionary journeys to Jerusalem, he taught his disciples many
things (Luke 9:51), especially charity, modesty, forgiveness, inclusiveness,
and prayer (Luke 11) which must be done persistently as highlighted in today’s
gospel parable of a poor widow who persistently ask the unjust judge for
justice (Luke 18:1-8).
But how do we pray? What tools do we use in prayer? For
Paul’s 2 Letter to Timothy, scripture, the Bible, the Word of God, the passages
of the Bible, the Psalms, like today’s Psalm, “Our Help is in the name of the
Lord” (Ps 121), the teachings of the Torah, the messages of the Prophets, the
gospels, the Pauline Writings, the Letters, the Epistles, are useful
instruments for Christian prayer. This is why Paul says, to Timothy, “all
scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for
correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God
may be competent, equipped for every good work” (cf. 1 Pet 1:25; 2 Pet 1:19-21;
Isa 40:8 and Verbum Domini, n.1).
Granted that we do have our own religious, and
socio-political challenges and battle to win: the poverty, the corruption in
nation’s capitals, the illnesses, the threats of war and terrorism. Prayer,
rooted in knowledge of the scriptures, is the key. Prayer for one’s self and
one’s neighbors. Trusting in God’s presence through the staff of our just and Christ-like
leaders is another key. And this trust as, Paul charges, must be consistent-
inspiring us to imitate not only Moses, but the poor widow of the gospel. If
the unjust judge in the gospel could listen to the persistent widow, and
blessed Israel through Moses’ persistent staffing, our God who is just and
righteous, certainly, would listen to each and every one us, whenever we
persistently lead with the fear of the Lord, and truly call upon him in
prayers! The Staff of God is with Us!
1.
What
lessons have we learned from today’s scripture passages?
2.
Do we
believe that the staff of God is with us?
3.
Are we
persistent in our prayers?
