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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, help me to be patient on long car trips -- but to pray to you as often and as much as I want! Amen.

Jesus taught His disciples a story to help them remember to pray: "A woman went to a judge over and over again to help her win a case in court. The judge finally decided, 'She'll bother me forever unless I help her!' So he did. Just like that judge, won't God help you when you ask over and over? I tell you, God will help."

"Are we there yet? Are we almost there? How many more miles? How many more hours? How many minutes is that? Are we closer to home or to the place we're going?"

Car trips can drive parents nuts. Even with an iPod, a cell phone with texting, a portable DVD player and snacks, kids can get bored quickly and just wish the trip was over already. That leads to the old question, "When are we gonna' get there?"

Warning: Asking that question enough times can cause adult anger!

This week's Gospel (Luke 18:1-8) is about asking the same thing over and over. A woman is suing someone in court, and she wants to win - so much that she won't stop begging the judge to see her side of things, to rush her case through, to rule in her favor.

Like anyone being asked the same thing over and over again, the judge could get angry. But, as any grownup who's taken a long car ride with a kid knows, people don't always ask the same question for no reason.

A kid on a long trip gets bored and jumpy. A woman in court wants to settle her case. They may drive others nuts, but they get their needs met: The judge makes a ruling; the parents stop for a break!

In the Gospel story, the judge is God. Jesus promises that, when you pester God to listen to you over and over again, God does hear you -- and never gets angry.

In fact, God may decide to rule in your favor when you pray! [[In-content Ad]]

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