Sunday, October 20, 2019

29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time/Proper 24/19^th Sunday after Pentecost

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:27-34
Psalm 119:97-104
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Gospel Reading: Luke 18:1-8

The liturgical color for the day is: Green

Luke is really clear what the story is about (Luke 18:1): “Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.”

It is the story Jesus tells about a woman—a widow woman.  It is a story about her and an unjust judge.  What is an unjust judge?  Dare we even talk about it now?  An unjust judge is a crooked politician.

In the story this widow woman comes to the politician and she keeps seeking justice.  Over and over again she comes back.  She does not give up.  She is persistent.  She is consistent.  She is always there.

And what happens?  Eventually she gets what she seeks so that, as the crooked politician says, “She may not wear me out by continually coming.”

Jesus says to pay attention and listen to what that “unjust judge “of a crooked politician says.  What does that crooked one say, “I will grant her justice.”

The story was to cause a chuckle in the original hearers, and it also is to do that in us.  And as we have that chuckle, we are to be saying, “It makes sense, even he would grant her justice.”  So then, consider how our just God is with us, and we are God’s children.  Consider that.

Of course, God cares.  Of course, God sees us and hears us and knows us.  So, as Luke puts it: “Pray always and do not lose heart.”

In other words, your prayer life should have that confidence that God fully and completely sees you, hears you, cares for you, and loves you.  It is an instruction on prayer.  We are to pray not like we are dealing with a crooked politician, but like we are dealing with a God whose whole passion is for us.  Such a generous and gracious God is exactly who we are dealing with.

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter / Stated Clerk