My dear beloved brothers and sisters,
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ!
Just this Wednesday, some parishioners of our parishes experienced the interactive workshop that uses blankets to represent land, teaching the long history of our Indigenous and non-indigenous people. I have done this workshop many times and every time I attended this blanket exercise I often experienced a new and deep impact in understanding the history of this country and the need to take action moving towards reconciliation. What steps can we take individually and collectively towards reconciliation? Maybe continuous learning, community involvement and conversations? The blanket exercise is really not to just inform us but to transform us as one community of love and forgiveness through the power of persistent prayer.
All our readings this weekend invite us to hold on to our faith through prayer when we experience difficult times. Moses lifted his hands in prayer to ensure Israel’s victory, and when he tired, Aaron and Hur supported his arms, keeping them raised until the battle was won. Victory often comes through a combination of individual effort, community support and divine assistance, showing us how people need each other and should help those who are struggling. St. Paul encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, especially during difficult times by grounding ourselves in God’s Word. This is vital for teaching, correcting, and training in righteousness.
Jesus in our Gospel (Luke 18: 1-8), teaches the importance of persistent prayer, using the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge to show that we should not lose heart in our communication with God while awaiting Jesus’s Second Coming. The story highlights that if a corrupt judge will grant justice to a widow for her persistence, then our just God will surely answer the persistent prayers of His faithful followers, even though we may face discouragement. So, we are called to “pray always and not lose heart,” God answers prayers in His own timing and perspective, which may not always be a quick “yes” but could be a “not yet” or even a “no, but something better,” reflecting His infinite wisdom and love to us. AMEN. God Loves You! ~ Fr. NEIL