29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C - Oct.
19, 2025
Exodus 17:8-13; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2; Luke 18:1-8
Theme: Persistence in Prayer and the Reading and
Teaching of the Word of God
A.
A Brief Exegetical Analysis of Luke 18:1-8
1. Historical
and Literary Contexts
Before our Gospel passage, Luke discussed when,
where, and how the kingdom of God will come. Believers learned that its arrival
is unpredictable, and when it happens, some will be taken while others will be
left (17:20-37). Then, through the parable of the persistent widow, in our
Gospel, Luke aims to teach his readers the importance of praying always without
growing weary to be chosen at the coming of the kingdom of God. Immediately
after our passage, through the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector,
he will discuss the wrong attitude to avoid and the correct one to observe
while praying (18:9-14).
2.
Form, Structure, and Movement
This Gospel story includes a parable. V. 1 acts as
an introduction, while v. 8b functions as a conclusion. The main part of the
text is divided into two sections: the parable itself (vv. 2-5) and its
commentary (vv. 6-8a).
3.
Detailed Analysis
V. 1. Luke
explains that this parable is to prepare Jesus’ disciples to know why they
should pray always with persistence without becoming weary.
V. 2-5. The dishonest judge versus a widow. Although
the widow knows how unjust and dishonest this judge is, she continues to come
to him, requesting that he make a fair decision between her and her adversary.
This dishonest judge ultimately grants the widow’s request because of her
persistence.
Vv. 6-8a. The focus of this parable is on the
persistence of this widow, which Jesus’s disciples should imitate. If this
wicked judge grants the widow's needs because of her persistence, then how much
more will God, who is just, provide justice to those who persist in prayer?
V. 8b. The story ends with Jesus’s question, asking
whether there will still be faithful people when he returns at the end of time.
Through this question, Jesus encourages his disciples to stay persistent in
prayer until the end of their lives or the end of time. This question links
this story to the previous ones about the coming of the kingdom of God
(17:20-21) and the day of the Son of Man (17:22-37).
4.
Synthesis
The disciples are called to imitate the persistence
of the widow in the parable. Although she knew how wicked the judge was, she
did not give up going to him and requesting a just decision against her
adversary until she received what she needed. God will grant justice to the
believers who persist in their prayer and faith until the end of their earthly
lives or when Jesus returns at the end of time.
B.
Pastoral Implications
1. Liturgical
Context
Today’s
Scripture readings encourage us to stay faithful and persistent in prayer, as
well as in reading and teaching the Word of God. The Gospel and first reading
focus on prayer, while the second reading highlights the importance of the Word
of God.
2. What
the Church Teaches Us Today
Although the widow knew how wicked the judge was,
she continued going to him and asking for a just decision against her adversary
until she received what she needed. At the end of this Gospel, Jesus wonders if
he will find faithful people when he returns at the end of time. Here, Jesus
challenges us to stay steadfast in our persistence until the end of our earthly
lives or until the end of the age, regardless of the trials we face daily. He
assures us that God will grant justice to believers who persist in prayer and
faith until the very end. Persistent prayer helps us understand and accept that
God's will is always the best and must prevail over our own. It moves us from
“faith the size of a mustard seed” (which often consists only of demands and a
need for miracles) to faith motivated by thanksgiving and the desire to remain
in a personal relationship with God (Cf. my homilies of the 27th and 28th
Sundays in Ordinary Time, Year C). Persistent prayer keeps us connected to our
Lord and our brothers and sisters, even during difficult times. Like Moses, who
kept his hands with “the staff of God” raised up and won the battle against
Amalek, as we heard in our first reading, let us always lift up prayers and
overcome all evil temptations that threaten to damage our relationship with
God.
Our
first reading recounts the story of the battle between the people of Israel and
the Amalekites. On their forty-year journey from Egypt to the Promised Land,
the Israelites, after crossing the Red Sea, passed through territory controlled
by the Amalekites. A tribal battle breaks out. Joshua, with his army, engages
Amalek in war while Moses, holding the staff of God in his hands, goes to the
top of a mountain accompanied by Aaron and Hur to pray to God. When Moses keeps
his hands and the staff of God raised, Israel’s army has the advantage; but
when he becomes weary and lets his hands rest, lowering the staff of God, the
Amalekites begin to gain ground. To keep his hands raised in prayer, Moses sits
on a rock while Aaron supports one hand and Hur supports the other until
sunset. As a result, Joshua and his army win the battle. Our local Church and
the pews symbolize the mountain Moses went to and the rock he sat on. This
reading teaches us that we should keep coming to our local Church, where we
meet our Lord in prayer and support each other, just as Aaron and Hur supported
Moses. When our busy schedules, desire for material possessions, or anxieties
lead us to miss Masses, especially on Sundays, we become weary in prayer and
risk losing our spiritual battles. Therefore, let us remain faithful and
persistent in attending Mass to succeed in our spiritual warfare.
Prayer
is a conversation between us and God. In a conversation, we do not just speak
to God, but we also listen to him when he talks to us. God speaks to us through
the Bible. That is why, in our second reading, Saint Paul exhorts Timothy and
us to remain faithful in reading and teaching the Word of God. Here, the Church
emphasizes that becoming familiar with the Sacred Scriptures enhances the way
we pray to God. Therefore, all Christians are called to read, study, share, and
pray with the Bible. You are welcome to attend the Liturgical Weekly Bible
Study on the Sunday Mass readings that I teach every Monday at 6:00 p.m.
Central Time online via Zoom (Zoom ID: 836 4516 5259, Passcode: Bible).
May
the liturgy of this Mass help us stay faithful and persistent in prayer and in
reading and teaching the Word of God until the end of our earthly lives. Amen.
Fr. Leon Ngandu, SVD
Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church, Jackson, MS
&
SVD USS Biblical Apostolate Coordinator
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