Homily for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C .
THE PARABLE OF THE PERSISTENT WIDOW AND THE UNJUST JUDGE.
The Importance of Persevering Prayer. AV Summary and text.
The Importance of Persevering Prayer. AV Summary and text.
“Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart (Lk 18:1).”
As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight. Moses’ hands, however, grew tired; so they put a rock in place for him to sit on. Meanwhile Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other, so that his hands remained steady till sunset. And Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
- As Evagrius wrote: “we have not been commanded to work, to keep watch and to fast constantly, but it has been laid down that we are to pray without ceasing.” (Evagrius, Capita practica ad Anatolium 49). For this, it is necessary to overcome our laziness, and to elevate our heart to God in all circumstances.
- It is always possible to pray: It is possible to offer fervent prayer even while walking in public or strolling alone, or seated in your shop, . . . while buying or selling, . . . or even while cooking (St. John Chrysostom, Ecloga de oratione 2: PG 63, 585.)
- Nor would it be possible to know what God wants from us.
- Nor would we obtain the graces we need in order to do His Will, reject temptations and sin…for prayer is one of the sources of divine grace.
- Nor would one be able to know Jesus, follow Him and identify ourselves with Him.
- He who considers prayer superfluous and useless evidently lacks faith in God and sees no need to be helped. Prayer, on the contrary, is a humble manifestation of man’s faith in God and in His Omnipotence –“Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Resp. psalm)” − for it supposes considering oneself indigent and incapable without God’s help.
- He who does not pray, does not hope, and has nothing to hope for because he considers his desires unreachable and impossible to obtain. Prayer, on the other hand, is hope in action where one puts his trust in God and abandons himself to His Will. Even if God delays in his response to what one asks, one should not worry.
- He who does not pray, does not love. For prayer is nothing but being and conversing with someone whom we love and who loves us (St. Teresa of Avila).
(St. John Chrysostom, De Anna 4, 5: PG 54, 666.)
AUDIO CREDIT AND SOURCE: “Pater Noster” (John Pamintuan) sung by the Philippine Madrigal Singers at the European Grand Prix, Arezzo, Italy (which they won) on August 26, 2007, video recorded and uploaded by sheikyurbutti in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkO887qpKvk. Track used in this video with permission from Mark Anthony Carpio, the choirmaster. Thanks a lot, Mark! And more power to all of the Philippine Madrigal Singers!
Stay updated: subscribe by email for free TO OUR NEW WEBSITE www.catholicsstrivingforholiness.org (PUT YOUR EMAIL IN THE SUBSCRIBE WIDGET).
We are also in www.fb.com/Catholicsstrivingforholiness. Kindly help more people in their Christian life by liking our page and inviting your family, friends and relatives to do so as well. Thanks in advance and God bless you and your loved ones! Fr. Rolly Arjonillo
ORIGINAL PHOTO SOURCE: pinterest.com, http://ids.lib.harvard.edu/ids/view/17386742?width=3000&height=3000,
