29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Exo 17:8-13
2 Tim 3:14-4:2
Lk 18:1-8
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Today’s gospel reading is known as the parable of the persistent widow. She was a poor widow who repeatedly appeals to an unrighteous judge (who neither feared God nor regarded men) for justice. She succeeded because her persistence wore the judge into submission.
This parable is only found in Luke. It is also controversial because God is represented as the unrighteous judge. Luke wrote in this manner because he was using a Rabbinic teaching method known as “Qal-Va-homer” or, from the lesser to greater. It means that if persistence can move someone lesser like the unrighteous judge, what more will Yahweh answer the prayers of those who pray persistently.
How persistent should we be praying then? The answer lies in the original Greek manuscript. The phrase used is ‘hypopiazo’ which, in one definition, means ‘give one a black eye’. It is a sports metaphor to describe aggressiveness and, depending on context, even violence. This, my brothers and sisters, is how we should be praying to Jesus!
In early September this year, I had to be ‘aggressively persistent’ when I went mountain climbing with a dear friend in the Dolomites region of Italy. Firstly, there was an arduous eight hour hike up and down a steep 3000-meter mountain range with sharp rocks. There was no turning back in the mountain ridge. I was exhausted and pain gripped my knees for almost the whole time. During the last stretch of the descent, I prayed the rosary to give me strength and persistence to keep on walking. Fortunately, I reached the end point, just when my legs cramped up.
Later on, when I was on my return flight to Singapore, I went through the security checks and scanners in Venice airport. After clearing them, I picked up my belongings and went to McDonalds to buy a drink. At that moment, I realised I had no money. I left my money pouch with my $300 Euros, credit cards and boarding pass at the security area. I rushed back and frantically engaged the officers there. They searched to no avail and told me it was lost. They asked me to move away and not block the passengers.
At that moment, I stood my ground and insisted that I be allowed to make a police report in that area. I was ignored. I started praying frantically while talking to as many officers as possible. Finally, after 10 minutes of walking around the area and persisting with my request, one of the officers went to knock at the door behind me. She persisted in her knocking, I persisted in my praying. Finally, the door opened, and a police officer emerged. They spoke in Italian and the officer said wait a moment. Then he went behind and, lo and behold, brought out my money pouch. Tears literally welled up in my eyes!
Brothers and sisters, aggressive persistence in prayer and action really paid off!
(Today’s OXYGEN by Andrew Sia)
Prayer: Lord, whenever I grow tired while praying, help me never to grow tired of praying to you.
Thanksgiving: Thank you Lord, for the blessings you have bestowed on the Catholic Church.
OXYGEN 
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