One Minute Reflection – 20 October – Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 18:1–8 and World Mission Sunday
And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says.” … Luke 18:6
REFLECTION – “As He often does, in today’s Gospel, Jesus takes the immoral realities of our world as His point of departure. Here, it is the corrupt judge, elsewhere, it was the servant who defrauds his master, the prodigal son, the foolish rich man, the glutton, the wicked vineyard owner.
Beginning with what is familiar, Jesus wants to move up to the laws of the Kingdom of God. Here, as in the parable of the friend knocking at the door at midnight, the point of comparison is the persistence of an importunate but not unjust request.
If even the wicked … then all the more God, who is good. Jesus wants to make utterly clear to us – God wants men to ask Him, even to pester Him. If God gives man freedom and goes so far as to enter into covenant with him, then He is not merely concerned about human freedom but has bound Himself in a covenant with His partner without giving up His divine freedom – God will always give the petitioner what is best for him, “the good” (Mt 7:11), “the Holy Spirit” (Lk 11:12). Whoever prays, in the Spirit of Christ, will be listened to without exception (Jn 14:12-14) And the Gospel adds, “without delay.” God does not hear our prayers at some later date. He hears and immediately responds with whatever best corresponds to the request. A request, however, presupposes faith, which is why the Gospel ends with something for us to mull over – will the Lord “find faith upon the earth” when He returns? It is we, who are listening here and not just anyone, who are being asked this!” … Cardinal Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988)
PRAYER – All-powerful, eternal God and Father, grant us the grace of Your Spirit and fill us with the light of understanding and love. May we learn to truly pray and by our prayers to entreat You to bless us in Your goodness and lead us to true faith in Your unfailing love and mercy. Grant that by the prayers of your Saints we may be strengthened and depend only on You. Holy Mother, be our protection and our guide . We make our prayer through Jesus, our Lord with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.
