ASK God with a sincere heart for his absolute forgiveness for all your failures and sinfulness, and he will grant it to you. Plea to him for a place in heaven along with your loved ones, and he will listen to you. For God sees your repentant and believing heart, and is moved by your persistence and enduring faith.
Indeed, when God sees your strong faith in him, he can’t help but be moved with pity on you. As Jesus says, “What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?” (Luke 11:11-12)
This message is apparent in all the three Scripture Readings of the Mass this Sunday.
First, the Old Testament Reading (EX 17-8-13) shows Moses standing on top of a hill, holding a staff in his hand while Joshua and his men engaged in a battle with Amalekites As long as Moses kept his hands raised, Israel had a better fight, but when he let his hands rest, the Amalekites had the better fight. When Moses’ hands got tired, Aaron and Hur put a rock in place for him to sit and supported his hands so that they remained steady until sunset. God saw Moses’ persistence and enduring faith and that of his people, and he let them win the battle against their enemies. Moses and his people must have shouted in praise to God, “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” (Ps 121)
In the New Testament Reading (2 Tim 3:14-4:2), Paul wrote to his young disciple, Timothy, telling him to remain faithful to what he learned and believed. He urged him to stay persistent, whether it is convenient or inconvenient. Timothy kept the advice of his mentor, and he too succeeded in his missionary efforts.
The Gospel (Lk 18:1-8) picks up on this theme of persistence. Jesus told his disciples about the necessity for them to pray without becoming weary by teaching them the lesson of the Parable of the Dishonest Judge.
A widow untiringly pleads to a judge for a just decision against her adversary. Knowing how defenseless she is as a woman and a widow, she has to be bold. So she keeps on pressing the judge for a hearing. Despite the judge’s ungodly ways and indifference towards her case, she is persistent in her demands. As the judge keeps not giving in, she resists giving up. She continues calling to him day and night until the judge finally relents out of annoyance and gives in to her wishes.
The Gospel presents a clear message: If the unjust judge will finally vindicate those who have been mistreated, how much more will God vindicate those who are faithful to him, who praying continually, crying out to God night and night?
Let’s not grow weary in praying to God for all our needs and wishes. Let’s believe in God’s absolute providence, mercy, and forgiveness!
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Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
