Prayerful friendships are a source of strength and consolation

Today’s Gospel contains a great lesson on prayer. Jesus tells a parable about a judge who “neither feared God nor respected any human being.” When harassed by a persistent widow, however, the unjust judge decides to render her a just decision, afraid that she will finally come and beat him. Jesus points out that, like the unjust judge, God will see that his chosen ones receive justice (Luke 18:1-8). 

It is an amusing comparison, but also one that is meant to make us stop and think. The first reading from the book of Exodus gives a different image for persevering in prayer (Exodus 17:8-13) and likens prayer to a battle. Moses and Joshua must fight the Amalekites. Moses tells Joshua to go into the fray, while he himself prays on the mountain. As long as Moses’ arms are elevated in prayer, Joshua gains ground. As soon as Moses lowers his arms, the battle goes to the Amalekites. Aaron and Hur stand with Moses and hold up his arms so that he can continue to intercede for Joshua and the army. Together, they support the army in prayer and Joshua wins the day, but prayer was definitely at the heart of the battle. 

This image is right on — prayer can be fatiguing and hard to keep up. It can seem like God is not listening. The point, however, is that despite our experience of disappointment or frustration at unanswered prayers, God is not acting like the unjust judge. Jesus assures us that God does not delay to secure justice. How are we to understand this? 

First of all, Jesus points out that God’s chosen ones call out to Him “day and night,” or unceasingly. Saint Paul also mentions this perseverance in his letter to Timothy, today’s second reading (2 Tim 3:14-4:2). He tells Timothy: “Be persistent, whether it is convenient or inconvenient.” The question then changes from “Why doesn’t God answer me?” but, “When do I speak with God?” Like a mini examination of conscience, I can ask myself how often I actually talk with God about my life. Do I only have recourse to Him when I need something? Or is my relationship with Him built up daily by conversation and listening? 

Second, the object of the widow’s prayer is for justice; she was being denied something that was rightfully hers. In our prayer, do we ask for truly good things? Do we ask for justice? In all our supplications, the focus has to be first on God and His will for each person; let Him be glorified and our desires and prayers will be properly ordered. 

Third, am I confident that God can and will render a just decision? Do I believe that God wills to give me what I truly need for salvation, not necessarily what I want? Again, Paul is reassuring here. He tells Timothy to remain faithful to what he has learned, which is capable of giving “wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” We, too, have learned about who God is from our parents, teachers and family members. Or, if a person doesn’t know God, now would be a good time to ask Him to reveal Himself. He will do so. In our acceptance of Christianity, we have learned what faith is and how to make acts of faith. Faith fires prayer with love and enables us to persevere. 

As we grow in perseverance, having friendships that are rooted in prayer is a source of strength and consolation. Those who seek God together benefit from their mutual search. This is true for married couples, siblings, friends, etc. The goodness in a true friend spurs me on to virtue and encourages me during tiresome periods when I feel like I can’t pray anymore. What a consolation Jesus gives us in one another, as we lift up our hands and hearts to God in prayer.