The theme of faith on which our readings have been focused these past two Sundays, takes a different turn in today's Word. The image of Moses in the First Reading of today (Exodus 17:8–13) intently observing (and helping) Joshua's battle with Amalek is both amusing and striking. There he leans, sitting on a massive rock, his arms outstretched, propped up on each side by his two aids, Aaron and Hur. Whenever Moses begins to lower his arms from fatigue, the enemy begins to prevail; so Aaron and Hur stay at his side until sunset and ultimate victory, serving as living crutches for his aching shoulders and arms. The author of this passage clearly wants to impress on the reader the need for persistence in prayer.
Many of us have false notions of prayer. The purpose of prayer is not to make God feel good, nor to win personal merit points, nor to change God’s “mind,” etc., etc. Rather, prayer is an expression of a relationship and the way one prays reveals the nature and intensity of that relationship. If, as disciples of Jesus, we do not cry out day and night (as the widow in today’s Gospel - Luke
18:1–8), if we are not persistent in prayer, and if we do not believe with all our heart that our prayer is being heard, then our prayer simply has no faith foundation. A person of faith, on the other hand, persists in prayer, and is long-suffering – never gives up despite the pain or the suffering or the long periods of darkness and silence. A person of faith fervently believes that his/her prayer is always received, and that God, in receiving our prayer, now has a way to connect with us, to empower us with God’s own presence and Spirit.
It is not always convenient to be a good steward in prayer, especially when all the temptations of our busy and materialistic world get in the way. Yet, we must be persistent even when it is inconvenient. This persistence marks the true follower of Christ. As we live our life, and do our best to live a life of Christ, we often meet obstacles. As we strive to be a disciple of Christ, standing up for our values and the dignity of others, let us remember to always turn to prayer first, and even at the most difficult times, eventually we will find reconciliation, eventually we sense peace.
Prayer, at root, is our relationship with Jesus. And so the nature of our prayer is essentially a reflection on the quality and intensity of that relationship. Blessed Mother Teresa puts its best “Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God’s gift of Himself." The author of our second reading speaks of it well; (2 Timothy) “I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favourable or unfavourable…."
1. What do you think the great challenge is to being a person of prayer today?
2. Is there a format, a way, a method of prayer which you find helpful?
3. Can you think of a moment when you persevered in prayer?
With hands uplifted O God, like Moses at prayer, we long for Your response to our prayer lets conclude with the model of all prayer. OUR FATHER.