Faith Daily | 13 November 2021

PRAYER of the DAY - PENTECOST

Blessed Lord,

you have caused all holy Scriptures to be written

for our learning:

grant that we may so hear them,

read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them,

that, by patience and the comfort of your hold word,

we may embrace and ever hold fast

the blessed hope of everlasting life,

which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 18: 1-8

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’” 6And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by: by Neville Eckersley

Can you see the wry humour that lies behind this memorable parable of Jesus?

The crowd would have chuckled to themselves hearing it, just as they would have the parable about the rich man getting into the kingdom of God being like a camel going through the eye of a needle.

Neither rich people nor unjust judges would have been popular in Israel at the time, (and it must be said, also at many other times!) so they are good targets for his satire.

The central character, the unjust judge, with no regard for anyone even God, seems to have all the power in this story, yet even he is finally worn down by the most powerless person, the widow.

Jesus, with his great sense of humour and his empathy with his listeners, has satirised those with power in the nation.

He is saying, as he often has, that when God judges everyone, the “last”, the weak, the poor, the powerless, shall be made “first,” and those seen to be “first”, the strong, rich and powerful, will be “last.”

And yet, Jesus went on to warn, will his people keep their trust in him through the waiting time, (verse8b)? He is encouraging them to do this, despite the world’s power brokers apparently winning and winning again. He is saying the God is really faithful, is in charge and will finally justify his people when he makes justice prevail.

FINAL PRAYER: APBA p595

Lord, tireless guardian of your people,

teach us to rely, day and night, on your care.

Drive us to seek your justice and your help,

and support our prayer lest we grow weary,

for in you alone is our strength.

We make our prayer through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.