WINNING THE TWO BATTLES

 Meditation for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
(Ex 17:8-13; 2 Tim 3:14-4:2; Lk 18:1-8)

Let us meditate on the teachings of Jesus about perseverance in prayer. The fact that Jesus, the master of prayer, is asking us to pray and never lose heart, reminds us of the struggle to abandon prayer. But hearing from Jesus that we should not lose heart is already a victory for us; yes, despite the numerous voices that discourage us, the one voice of Jesus is enough reason to carry on!

 

Every prayerful person will agree that prayer does not come easy. We learn it over the years, and struggle with it the rest of our lives. The battle of prayer is like the battle we read in the first reading between Israel and Amalekites. It was a battle fought with human strength and intelligence, but won with the grace that came through perseverance in prayer. Think about the resilience in battle, which Joshua and his men employed against Amalek and his men at Rephidim…Now, compare it at the same time with the resilience in prayer, which Moses, Aaron and Hur employed on the mountain. If we run away at the heat of the battle, how can the victory be won?

 

Meditate on the mingling of the battle of life and the battle of prayer… He who perseveres and wins the battle of prayer will definitely win the battle of life. This is further exemplified in the parable of the widow who required justice from the unrighteous judge. She was faced with the battle of life, where injustice was being meted out to her by her adversary. In addition, she had to confront another challenge of getting help from a judge who had no compassion and was selfish. But this widow had the gift of perseverance in battle; she would not stop confronting her adversary, and she would not give up asking for help. The unrighteous judge had to answer her so that she would not wear him out by her continual coming. Jesus said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God vindicate His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them? I tell you; He will vindicate them speedily.”

The energy to hold forth in the battle of prayer comes from faith, which is built on the knowledge of God. This knowledge that strengthens faith is received through the Scriptures. That is why wrong interpretation of the Bible or lack of knowledge of it, and misplaced approach to faith, often hunt our prayer life. When Moses’ hands grew weary in prayer, they put a stone under him, and he sat upon it. That is how the knowledge of the Scriptures supplies the support we need to continue in prayer without losing heart. St. Paul says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

 

If we live by the word of God, our faith will be alive; if our faith is alive, we will persevere in prayer. And if we can conquer every obstacle and distraction and continue in prayer, then we shall win the battle of life. Therefore, to pray without losing heart means to align one’s life to the will of God. That is why meditating on the word of God is such a powerful and effective way to persevere in prayer; it helps us to be aware of God’s presence, mingles divine strength with our human efforts, and the victory is ours. Amen.

 

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,

Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.

Sunday October 16th, 2022.

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