my rights against my opponent.’ For a time he refused, but finally he thought: ‘Even though I neither fear God nor care about
people, this widow bothers me so much I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing me out.” And Jesus explained,
“Listen to what the evil judge says. Will God not do justice for his chosen ones who cry to him day and night even if he delays in answering them?
I tell you, he will speedily do them justice. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Reflection:
In today’s gospel, Jesus is not comparing God
to an unjust judge. The parable has a context in
the earlier comment of Jesus: ‘If you then, who
are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’ (Lk 11:13). His point is
that if even the most unjust of judges will relent to the
pleas of a defenseless widow who will not stop
petitioning him every day, then how much more will
God answer our prayers? The parable offers hope
to those among us who are perhaps reluctant
to address God with our petitions for fear that it
will fall on deaf ears. It is both an invitation and
encouragement to pray without ceasing, confident
of God's desire to respond.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2021