Parable of the persistent widow

Fr Paul begins by reading today’s Gospel from Luke (18:1-8) in which Jesus tells his disciples about the need to pray continually and never lose heart.

Often we think that prayer is just asking once for something and then that’s it but in this parable, Fr Paul says, Jesus encourages us to pester God just like the wronged widow pesters the unjust judge.

The judge is afraid that this woman is going to confront him face to face. The language even suggests she might even slap him across the face hence why the judge is afraid.

Persistence is only one aspect of prayer. Fr Paul says if we continued reading in the next parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector, the tax collector wins approval because he stands there and he admits his sins.

Luke is also reminding us that Jesus is always quietly at prayer to his Father. He prays at the most important times of his life.

Mindful of this Gospel message about persistence in prayer and of the example that Jesus himself gives us in this area, Fr Paul says we might ask ourselves, ‘How can I follow the example of Jesus spend more time in prayer with God on a regular basis?’