By Fr. Andrew Kelly
TWENTY NINTH SUNDAY ORDINAL TIME — OCTOBER 20, 2013
The first and last sentences of Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 18:1-8) are vitally connected: “Then Jesus told the disciples a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart… And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Prayer is the soul-filled relationship that exists between the community and Jesus Christ. The prayer is based on the community’s faith-filled awareness that Jesus Christ is always present and will never abandon the community.
There may be persecutions and rejection. Members may be falling away as interest and faith in Jesus Christ’s message and mission wane. But these internal and external events never mean that Jesus Christ is absent. Nothing can ever sever the living relationship that exists between the community and Jesus Christ.
This faith is essential if the community is to “pray always and not lose heart.” This praying faith is what Jesus is speaking about when Jesus comments: “And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
If this praying faith is present on Sunday, the community will perfectly understand the witty story Jesus tells about the poor widow and the unjust judge.
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)
Scripture Readings for Oct. 20-27
Sunday
Ex 17:8-13
2 Tm 3:14-4:2
Lk 18:1-8
Monday
Rom 4:20-25
Lk 12:13-21
Tuesday
Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21
Lk 12:35-38
Wednesday
Rom 6:12-18
Lk 12:39-48
Thursday
Rom 6:19-23
Lk 12:49-53
Friday
Rom 7:18-25a
Lk 12:54-59
Saturday
Rom 8:1-11
Lk 13:1-9
Sunday
Sir 35:12-14, 16-18
2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18
Lk 18:9-14
