SATURDAY, THIRTY SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Wis 18: 14-16; 19: 6-9; Ps 105; Lk 18: 1-8
A VERY DETERMINED DETERMINATION
Saint Teresa of Avila, the Doctor of the Church says that prayer is “nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” In all of her writings, Teresa explains the practice of prayer. In today’s gospel, this is what Jesus is trying to tell his disciples. The disciples are taught to pray and Jesus encourages them and teaches them three things in prayer – perseverance, constancy and dedication. By our perseverance, God is pleased and we must come to God with boldness and confidence – just like the poor widow who presented herself to the unjust judge with boldness and confidence.
Jesus encourages constancy in our prayer life. He teaches us that if God doesn’t answer our prayers instantly, he will in due time if we are constant in our prayers. And determination is what we need to go through in our prayers. According to Saint Teresa of Avila, to reach the end, prayerful souls need muy determinada determinacion (a very determined determination) to persevere until they reach the end. All the other great saints too, over the centuries, have spoken about the importance of reserving each day, a little time to pray. If one stops praying, it is difficult to get back into a proper rhythm in our life.
The first reading today talks about justification by faith. In Christian theology, justification is the event or process by which sinners are made righteous in the sight of God. The deliverance of the righteous and the destruction of their enemies is possible only by a strong prayer life.
Today we celebrate the Dedication of the Churches of Peter and Paul. The Basilica was consecrated by Pope Urban VIII on November 18, 1626. Like Saints Peter and Paul, let us dedicate ourselves to the glory of God by our determined prayers.
Response: Remember the wonders the Lord has done.
Copyright ©2023 ©Springs of Living Water http://springs.carmelmedia.in