Catechism Links[1]
CCC 2574-2577: Moses and prayer of intercession
CCC 2629-2633: prayer of petition
CCC 2653-2654: the Word of God, a source of prayer
CCC 2816-2821: “Thy kingdom come”
CCC 875: urgency of the preaching task
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| ” Portrait of a Widow at her Devotions” by Leandro Bassano, 1590’s |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Exodus 17:8-13
Commentary on Ex 17:8-13
The Israelites had just finished arguing (at the legendary Massah and Meribah) about whether the Lord was in their midst or not. In this passage, God’s presence is made clearly known as Moses, raising the staff of God during battle, gives them a sign of his continued support (against Amalek, leader of the indigenous people of southern Palestine). This incident is also mentioned in Deuteronomy 25:17-19. It introduces Joshua as military commander and from this point forward his role is frequently mentioned. It is another example of Moses' intercessory prayer for the Hebrew people. (see also Exodus 32:11ff, Exodus 34:6-9; Numbers 12:11-14)
CCC: Ex 17:8-13 2577
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. (cf. 2) Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Commentary on Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Psalm 121 is a hymn of blessing given prior to a long and difficult journey. These strophes explain that God is faithful, and will protect the traveler from harm – God is always with us (“…he is beside you at your right hand. The sun shall not harm you by day, nor the moon by night”). The imagery in the opening strophes reminds us of Moses in Exodus 17:8-13 as he stood upon a high place so that the Israelites could see that God was with them. In this song of blessing we are reminded of God’s continuing guidance and the salvation he provides us through His Son.
CCC: Ps 121:2 1605
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Reading II: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
Commentary on 2 Tm 3:14-4:2
St. Paul, in his instructions to St. Timothy, tells him that Sacred Scripture provides wisdom because it is inspired by God. (Here he is speaking of the Hebrew Canon, since the first Christian Canon has not yet been codified. However, Dei Verbum, from Dogmatic Constitution On Divine Revelation, quotes this passage as the Church’s view on that body of Holy Scripture as well.)
It is important in this passage to understand what St. Paul is not saying as well. “Paul extols Scripture as a preeminent guide for the moral life. He does not claim, however, that Scripture supplies us with comprehensive instruction in all matters of Christian doctrine, worship, and ecclesial government. Besides the divine authority of the biblical books, he also acknowledges the authority of apostolic tradition (1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15) and sees the Church built on the foundation of Christ and the apostles (1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20) as the bearer of God’s truth to the world (1 Timothy 3:15).”[5]
He goes on to tell his disciple that his work needs to be persistent, alluding to the idea that the work of spreading the Gospel will be difficult, and a life-long task. Timothy is charged to admonish and teach in all manner of situations (see also Ephesians 5:16).
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Gospel: Luke 18:1-8
Commentary on Lk 18:1-8
This is the first of two parables on the need for prayer found in St. Luke’s Gospel. In this selection, the Lord tells the disciples of the need for persistent prayer so they do not fall victim to apostasy. He assures them that God, the Just Judge, will listen to their prayers and come speedily to their aid in times of need.
“As the widow pleaded for justice, so we should persevere in faith and tirelessly petition God for our needs (Romans 12:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)” In v.6, “His [the unrighteous judge’s] indifference to the widow’s distress was a violation of justice (Deuteronomy 27:19). The parable’s outcome is thus a mere shadow of God’s concern for us. If an unjust and callous judge will vindicate a persevering widow, the Father will much more come to the aid of his prayerful children (Sirach 35:12-17).”[6]
The question at the end of the Parable: “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” completes a thought in Luke 17:37, which relates the relationship of the faithful to God at the final judgment.
CCC: Lk 18:1-8 2573, 2613; Lk 18:1 2098; Lk 18:8 675
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Reflection:
"It must be humbly and realistically recognized that we are poor creatures, confused in ideas, tempted by evil, frail and weak, in continual need of inner strength and consolation.
- Prayer gives the strength for great ideas, to maintain faith, charity, purity and generosity.
- Prayer gives the courage to emerge from indifference and guilt, if unfortunately one has yielded to temptation and weakness.
- Prayer gives light to see and consider the events of one's own life and of history in the salvific perspective of God and eternity.
Therefore, do not stop praying! Let not a day pass without your having prayed a little! Prayer is a duty, but it is also a great joy, because it is a dialogue with God through Jesus Christ! Every Sunday, Holy Mass: if it is possible for you, sometimes during the week; every day, morning and evening prayers, and at the most suitable moments!" (Saint John Paul II, "Audience with Young People", 14 March 1979).
So much is written on prayer, and so many great leaders of our faith have exhorted us to pray and spoken about how we must do so, it is difficult to find new words that would improve upon those given to us by St. Luke’s Gospel, or the words quoted above from Saint John Paul II. We resort then to asking one question, since we all know how important it is to pray, and thereby come into God’s presence spiritually: why is it that so few of us achieve the blessed status of the saints who have gone before us? It is not rocket science. For over two thousand years we have been told to pray, pray constantly, yet we often find prayer either difficult or empty.
We will not embark upon a treatise on prayer, on the how’s or why’s of it. Rather we will simply point to the idea that one reason our prayer is so often difficult or empty is because we do not believe God will listen, and listening to our insignificant needs, answer. The parable of the widow and the unjust judge assures us that, in spite of our inner feelings, our Heavenly Father loves us so intensely that he does listen and will answer, even the most insignificant of prayers. Our challenge, knowing this, is to listen for the answer, and not become disheartened because the answer, more often than not, is no.
Today we rededicate ourselves to walking with God in prayer. His Son came to us so that we might know how intensely he listens, and left us the Holy Spirit as a “heavenly hearing aid.” It only requires the batteries of faith and the will to plug it in.
Pax
In other years on this date:
Or
Optional Memorial for Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin
[1] Catechism links are taken from the Homiletic Directory, Published by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 29 June 2014
[2] The picture used today is” Portrait of a Widow at her Devotions” by Leandro Bassano, 1590’s
[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, © 2010, Ignatius Press, San Francisco , CA. pp. 400
[6] Ibid pp.140
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