Reflection for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C
(Ex 17:8-13, 2Tim 3:14-4:3, Lk 18: 1-8)
1.0. The
Battle
Prayer is
battle; prayer wins the battle! This is the predominant message this Sunday. The
battle between Joshua and Amalek at Rephidim was won through the uplifted hands
of Moses up the hill. But to sustain his hands in prayer was tough.
Aaron and Hur held his hands, one on each side, and he sat on a rock, with the
rod of God lifted up in prayer. The sharp blade of Joshua moved down the Amalekites, with the strength generated from Moses’ perseverance in prayer.
2.0. Perseverance
No one wins a
war without persevering. The faith of the man of prayer rises like the courage
of the soldier at war. So he perseveres in prayer as the soldier matches on
though the battle rages. Such was the courage with which the poor widow
approached the corrupt Judge. Hers was a tough battle! The woman’s persistence melted the man’s
high-handedness. Knowing that the Judge had solution to her problem, she
surrendered all her trust—her heart—to him, and would never stop bordering him.
While Moses lifted up the staff of God, and painfully sustained it till victory
was won, the poor widow mystically lifted up heart to Judge, and consistently sustained it till she was vindicated.
Jesus tells us
this parable today to remind us that perseverance is not optional in prayer.
Unlike the unjust Judge, God is just, and answers speedily. He hears the cries
of His Children, and answers at His own time, which is the right time. The
grace of God does not come late! Since God is Eternity, our availability in
time, and at all times, to receive the answers to our prayers gives rises to perseverance in prayer. The unfolding of
time comes with distractions, weariness, discouragement, etc that automatically
oppose the man of prayer, who must battle against these in order to sustain the staff of God—the heart that prays—lifted
up to the heavens.
3.0. ‘The Rod of God’
Moses sat on
the rock, lifted up the rod of God high in prayer, and was supported by Aaron
and Hur. Jesus is the Rock of Ages. Moses
seating on rock points to how the man of prayer must have his life rooted in
Christ Jesus. In other words, he must be a man of truth; a man whose life rests
on righteousness. “Those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth”
(Jn 4:23). And it is only those who worship in truth that can persevere. The supporting
hands of Aaron and Hur represent the support of the community, saints and
angels to the man of prayer. Prayer puts us in communion with others. The
prayer of the Church helps us to persevere in prayer.
Then, imagine
if the rod of God were not in the uplifted arms of Moses! It would be like
offering empty praises, with the heart far from God (Mt 15:8). The rod of God in
the hands of Moses is like the chalice in the hands of the priest; the offering
back to God what God has given! It is the lifting up of a heart formed by the
word of God and filled with the Holy Spirit. The staff of God—the Cross of
Christ lifted up—becomes the ultimate sign of victory. Our prayers, therefore,
must be marked by this staff of God—the Cross—for us to triumph. The Victory of
the Cross is the answer to our prayers.
“Nevertheless,
when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Will the hands of
Moses be emptied of the rod of God as he prays! This happens when prayer is without
the Cross, and so it is faithless. Thus the man of prayer must acquaint himself
with the word of God. This is where he gets the orientation to step into the
battle of prayer so as to win the battle of life. “All Scripture is inspired by
God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training
in righteousness...” This is where we draw the courage to persevere in the battle
of prayer, and our victory is assured.
Fr Jude
Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church,
Abule-Oshun,
Lagos.
Sunday 20th
October, 2019.
