REFLECTION

GOSPEL

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. A widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.'

For 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, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’

The Lord said, ‘Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will 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? I 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?"                                                               Luke 18: 1-8

Reflection

Years ago when my daughter was first learning to write her name it was time to select and share Valentine cards with her classmates.  She was determined to personally sign each and every card.  I sat with her at the table as she painstakingly wrote her name in her best handwriting on each card.  As the evening went on, the stack of unsigned cards remained taller than those she had completed.  Worried that she might be getting tired (or perhaps wishing I could go do something else), I asked her if she would like to stop the project.  She looked at me with the most earnest expression and proclaimed “Mum, I am no quitter.”  Throughout her life she has demonstrated that she is “no quitter” in her work as a nurse and challenges that may arise within her family and her circle of friends.

My purposeful, industrious daughter comes to mind as I pray today. As I reflect on that moment in time,  the image helps me appreciate the support I was giving my daughter’s efforts to be a good friend by staying with her at the table as she worked to be a good friend.  I am reminded to also appreciate the presence of God’s loving support in my life through prayer.

All Scriptures and parables are inspired by God and are useful for teaching, for refutation,  correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.  What a powerful invitation to ground ourselves to pray with Scripture, especially through contemplative prayer where we can use all of our senses to put ourselves in the story. And at the same time, may we be inspired to feel God’s presence throughout my day and have those experiences, emotions and encounters animate our prayers.

The widow in the parable shared by Jesus in the Gospel from Luke is the ultimate “no quitter.”  Her persistence in her requests to the hard-hearted judge is impressive.  She is strong, courageous, purposeful and focused.  I wonder what it might be like if I approached my prayer life with such strength, courage, purpose and focus.  As I listen to what Jesus is attempting to teach about prayer through this parable. Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.  Rather than try to figure out the perfect way to pray or the perfect time to pray or the perfect structure of our prayers, we simply need to put our trust in God to support our desire to pray. I am comforted by that support and am inspired to be as persistent as the widow. 

St Ignatius had a lot to say about prayer.  In the Spiritual Exercises St Ignatius tells us that before we even begin to pray, we should “Ask God our Lord for what I want and desire.”  Being attentive and asking for a grace, a desire, helps me listen more deeply to God. Beginning my prayer by asking for a grace reminds me that prayer is not a high-powered negotiation session for a particular request but rather a rich conversation with God.

The wants and desires that form the grace I put before God are limitless. Perhaps I pray for the grace to be more attentive to God in my daily routine. Or the grace for insight as I face big decisions.  Or the grace to celebrate the many gifts in my life.  Or perhaps the grace to …... you fill in the blank.

Inspired by the beautiful readings today and trusting in the vastness of God’s love, I am confident that when it comes to prayer, I am no quitter.

Julie Leonard

Religious Education Leader

Wellbeing Leader