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PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Jesus, help me do the work to get the reward I want, whether it's acting in a play or being close to you! 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."

Sticking with a goal can be tough. If you want to be in the school play, for instance, you don't just have to audition. If you get a part, you have to show up for rehearsals every week, learn your lines, work with everyone else -- even people you may not like -- and conquer any nervousness so that, on opening night, you can shine!

This week's Gospel (Luke 18:1-8) is about sticking with goals. Jesus uses the example of a woman who sues someone. It sounds at first like she may not win, but she won't let go. She goes to the judge over and over again and demands justice until he pays attention and agrees.

Acting in a play can be wonderful fun, but there's also work involved. If you don't rehearse your lines, where to stand and how to express yourself, you won't become a good actor! It takes work to get to the fun part.

Jesus' story was like that. He was really talking about having a good relationship with God. Like a person arguing to win a court case, Jesus said, we can't expect God's help if we don't do the work to develop a connection with God. We have to be persistent to get what we want.

Rehearsing for a play pays off on opening night. You've learned your part and played it well, and you get to enjoy acting and take a bow as the audience applauds! Jesus said the work of prayer pays off, too. The woman who kept going back to the judge got the help she needed. We will, too, if we stay close to God.

Acting in a play gets applause. Acting in a way that makes God proud gets us to heaven![[In-content Ad]]

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