Judge and the widow

Gospel. 18: 1-8.

Jesus through the parable of the Judge and the widow, teaches His disciples to keep on praying with ought loosing to heart.

Reflection.

This readings remind us of the power of constant prayer. They remind us to pray always and not losing heart. While we keep on praying constantly we should make use of the scriptures and the teachings of the Apostles (tradition) as they are revealed by God and are divinely inspired. Therefore they are full of power, and we only have to put in faith.

 Ex. 17: 8-13 ( During the war with Amakek, Moses was in prayer with extended hands. As long as Moses’ hands were extended Joshua won; the moment he put his hands down Amalek won. When Moses grew weary they made him sit and Aron and Hur held his hand until they won the war.)

In the above reading the Israelite are on their way to the Promised Land and they are challenged by Amalek. When Moses knew that Amalek was coming against them he sent Joshua to meet them while he stood in prayer with his hands extended, as long as his hands were extended Joshua won the war. As soon as he put down his hands they lost. Therefore when he was becoming weary they made him to sit on a stone and Aaron and Hur held his hands until they won the war. In this manner they won through the intersession of Moses.

In the Gospel the story is about a righteous judge who could not resist but give in to the widow who wanted him to vindicate her against her adversary. Though this judge was known to have no fear of God, nor had any regard for any man he could not resist this widow who kept on coming. Finally he had to give in. It was the constant beseeching that made the judge to act. And the Lord says, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not the 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.’ As we think constant prayer, the second reading reminds us of the power of the scriptures and teachings of the Apostles (tradition). They have been revealed to us directly by God and are inspired by God. It makes things easy for us. A person who makes use of these has only to put faith in them. He need not even bother of finding suitable words. If we have faith even the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains. Mary put all her faith in the word of God till it became flesh in her. It is the word that created the world. Therefore the word of God has the creative power in it. We only have to put the necessary faith into it.

Therefore let us take to prayer. Let us pray constantly without being tired or discouragement and let us make use of the scripture and the teachings of the Apostles which also are teachings of the Church on prayer. It brings great results lasting and permanent ones.

2Tim. 3: 14-4:2.

St. Paul writes to Timothy to adhere to the word of God and his teachings as they are revealed by God and are inspired and are therefore powerful. He wants him to preach and to teach the message of God.

Aid Story.

Three Manchester girls want hiking on Greenfield Moors one Sunday in December, meaning to go to ladder Rocks. They lost their way and got lost in the jungle and wandered for three days. One fell into a bog up to the waist and the others struggled for an hour to get her out. “Our feet were swollen and arching with the cold and we tried to keep them warm by massaging each other. On Tuesday we saw an aero plane searching for us, but we had no strength to wave long enough to be seen. It passed over our heads and we really thought that was the end. The only drink we had was muddy water from a stream to which we could only crawl. Every night we prayed to St. Anthony of Padua.”

Meanwhile the organized search parties had abandoned the search. On the fifth day however God answered our prays; four policeman and four others went on a forlorn hope to where the girls had lost and managed to find them. The three girls were suffering badly from frostbite, exposure and lack of food. The doctor who first saw them said it was astonishing how they soon recovered. The one quoted above said afterwards; “This world used to seem a very unromantic place, but now I think I am to be in it. (In the daily Express, Dec. 15.1935.)

Aid Story 2.

This is a true story of George Phillips of Meridian Mississippi. They had just finished their bed prayers when his wife told him that she left the lights in the shed outside on. George opened the door and saw some thieves in the shed. He called the police. The police explained that all patrols were out, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be there when available. The couple got together and prayed that the thieves would not enter the house. George called the police again and told them “you don’t have to worry because I’ve just shot them all.” Within five minutes three squad cars, an armed response unit and an ambulance showed up. Of course the police caught the burglars red handed. One of the police officers said to George. “I thought you said that you’d shot them!” George said, “I thought you said there was nobody available.”

Wrote: Fr. Ciswan De Croos.

www.stjosephschurchkanuwana.org

Ranjan De Mel.