TWENTY NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C
16th October 2022.
Exodus 17:8-13; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2; Luke 18:1-8.
St. Teresa of Avila defined prayer as the raising up of our minds and hearts to God. Praying continually makes prayer part of daily living. Raising up our minds and hearts to God keep us always in God’s friendship and in his presence. Prayer is associated with faith because it involves a positive change of character. A prayerful life is like light placed on a lampstand.
A prayerful life is practical and visible for all to see.
In today’s gospel, Jesus was sceptical about finding on earth the faith that is based on a prayerful life. Prayer is not about consistent nagging or complaining about what we want. He used the parable of the Unjust Judge and the Widow to highlight the fact that a prayerful life requires patience and persistence. Patience and persistence are the best moulds of character. This is why prayer is always associated with faith.
According to Tertullian, prayer does not change the mind of God, rather it conforms to the will of God. Sometimes our worries are unfounded. They quickly disappear as soon as our disposition towards changes. Prayer is a daily transformation of ones life. Those who sincerely pray daily will experience a sanity. Our hope today is that the voice is never silent when it has become part of life.
Anthony Ekpunobi, CM.
