In several places in the bible, especially the gospels we read about widows. In Jewish society where influence and power mattered, widows were poor and vulnerable. Often they could not care for or defend themselves and so had to rely on others to take their side and defend them. However, the widow in this Sunday’s gospel is the exception to this the case. She is clearly well able to look after her own interests and speak up for herself. This widow is held up to us as an example and role model of strength, courage and perseverance in the face of being ignored and rejected. Coming before the judge seeking justice, she keeps at him relentlessly until he finally gives her what she is demanding.
What can this determined widow teach us about prayer and our relationship with God? Some of our relationships may only be business-like and temporary. Others are deeper and more important to us, such as our families. However, our relationship with God is on-going and permanent and can only be sustained and nourished through regular prayer. Prayer is simply talking and listening to God. We can always do this because the God with whom we are friends is always with us, listening to us and responding to us. Our prayer cannot be a casual or occasional practise because our friendship with God is neither casual nor occasional.
God’s relationship with us is personal and permanent. The danger and temptation is that when we feel our prayers are neither being heard or answered, we give in and give up on God. The widow in the gospel did the complete opposite. Her patience and perseverance paid off. In the end, the judge gave her what she was looking and asking for. How much more then will God who loves us give us what are asking and looking for? All that is asked of us is that we remain faithful to nourishing and nurturing our relationship with God through our prayer. This week then, let us look to this widow as an example of patience and perseverance and as St. Paul encourages us in his letter to the Thessalonians, let us always be joyful and pray constantly.
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We in the Oblate Community regret to announce the death of Fr....
Oblates exercise very diverse ministries but above all seek to dedicate themselves to the poor and abandoned. One can thus find Oblates in Britain and Ireland working in parishes, in missionary formation, preaching, social justice and pastoral ministries, or prisons. “No ministry is alien to us as long as we never lose sight of the main purpose of the Congregation: the evangelization of the most abandoned.” ~ Oblate Constitutions and Rules.
