Dear Brothers and Sisters,
You have the freedom to act and respond to the events in your life which determine in many ways the quality of your life, and of your faith. Maybe in that crisis you took time and had a measured response, or maybe you didn’t, and you regret it. The crisis I faced my first summer as a priest thirteen years ago led me to go listen to a catechesis (a series of talks) by the Neo-catechumenal Way in Ridgewood, NJ and in this save my priesthood and probably my life.
God always takes the initiative and gives us an overabundance of his help. Last week we heard how ten lepers were made whole and only one turned back to God to thank him. The Samaritan is thankful and because of that God gives him even more than his healing from leprosy; he gives him faith, eternal life; the others were only cured of their leprosy.
Today there is another kind of story in the gospel from the opposite end of the spectrum. Lepers were healed last week although many times this doesn’t happen, does it? And so what do you do when your prayers are not heard? How do you respond when you feel that God is not listening to you?
Often people don’t pray since they did not see a difference when they tried before. Why bother? If you feel that way this is a perfect gospel for you, and you are not alone. Many people today feel that prayer is a waste of time. Jesus addresses this issue by telling us this simple parable with two characters, and he even tells us the point of the parable: the need to pray always and not grow weary, and not lose heart.
There is a judge in this parable and in those days judges were very powerful and this judge fears neither God nor man. He did what he wanted to do regardless of what he needed to do. The other person is a widow. She has nothing, especially in comparison to the judge, and she has no rights and according to the times could not hold a job or own property. If her family did not support her she would be destitute. Even if the judge was a generous one she doesn’t have much of a chance. But she wore him down with her persistence and he finally gave her what she wanted in order to get rid of her. Those of you with small children may understand this better than me.
If this dishonest judge gives her what she needed how much more will God, your Father, give you? Have a specific time and place to pray: in your room, in front of a crucifix, on the bus. Have a book or a New Testament with you. Read something, then close your eyes, speak, and listen. It is better if you can set aside time, five minutes or so, in the morning and two things will happen. One is that God will honor your perseverance as in an unmistakable way. I knew that the help I received my first year as a priest was from God; I know it better now than then. Also waiting will increase your desire for the intention you have. Secondly, prayer will purify your heart, and your character, and maybe even change your mind about what you are asking for.
Faith is saying, Lord, whatever you send me I accept it, and I know it is the best for me. It is very different from the person who says, Lord, do my will and I will keep coming to church. Actually, most people when they get what they want they forget about God until the next crisis. This is not faith.
Pray and do not lose heart. Pray for your prodigal son, your marriage, the person in your office that you can’s stand, your needs, peace in the world and in our hearts. God is honored by it and you will be changed.