Luke 18:1-8 Lord, I Need You!

Saturday of the Twenty-Eighth Week In Ordinary Time

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I picture myself often times as a man observing Jesus when he gives these teaching moments.  I imagine him talking with confidence and charity, whose  actions are never fearful and are always in union with his Father's will.  Oh, how I desire this state of peace for myself and my loved ones.

For this teaching moment Jesus uses the example of a Judge, who "Neither fears God nor respects that which he has created in his image".  This is a strong image that is meant to grab the listener who was more than likely a faithful follower of Jesus.  The widow is no one other than someone persistent in their request for the Judge to render a just decision.  The judge knew what she was asking for was legitimate and that she would more than likely run out of patience and possibly result to physical action to get his attention.  Needless to say, the Judge accommodated her, not so much by a sense of duty but rather out of annoyance. 

Jesus then points to God in contrast to the Judge and paints a picture of a just God that is chasing us because he loves us.  God is not lying in wait or occupied with the businesses of the day but rather he wants us to petition him, "Secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night in prayer."  Once again, Jesus is making a statement with authority, "I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily."  This justice is linked to truth that is in union with the will of God.  This can be a difficult concept and a challenge because it is called for total submission to God's will and not ours.  If we are chosen then we have a familiarity with God, one that he should recognize by way of our actions in prayer and charity.  Hence Jesus states, "But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

I once posed this question to my children and not to make light of the situation, but to capture the reality of their faith and a bit of their attention, I stated, "Would Jesus know you if you walked into Starbucks and saw him sitting at a table reading a book?  Would he look up and call you by name and ask you to join him or would you have to introduce yourself to him?"

The point I was trying to make was to have them make a connection with Jesus outside the Church and our home.  It worked.

So now to us.  How do you get to know someone?  You spend time with them.  How do you fall In love with someone?  You spend more time with them.  How do you get to know God?  You pray and talk to him and build a relationship with his son by experiencing him.  So would God know you or would you have to introduce yourself to him?

Then Jesus told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.


Phil Lozano lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife and children.