Gospel Reflections for October 20 2019
Perseverance
Perseverance is a good thing and highly praised in today’s Gospel. I see it here as well.
Firefighters once again have had to battle relentless fires here in Southern California, yet they never give up, and stay on the fire line saving lives and protecting homes with tremendous courage and bravery. They persevere!
This Gospel has the same theme. It was written when pilgrims would travel by foot for thousands of miles on a spiritual journey to Jerusalem to see the places where Jesus walked. They knew that if they could just get to that final destination, their lives would be greatly changed. But travel then was hard. They needed to cross rivers, climb mountains, and endure fierce weather. Yet, they persevere!
Finally, they would arrive in the Holy Land, and discover they had already changed. The journey itself had made them into different and much better persons who were now; stronger, more disciplined, and more courageous. Their perseverance had taught them to rejoice in success and learn from any failure. (After all, it is success if you make any mistake only once!)
The journey itself can make a difference. In the amusing parable of the persistent woman and the judge, Jesus invites you to persevere in prayer. Just even starting a prayer puts things in the right perspective. It tells you that you are not entirely in control and that there is a God above you who sees the larger picture of your future. Praying helps you know your needs more clearly because you have to choose words to make them intelligible to Our Lord. Speaking your needs makes them clearer to yourself as well. You might just find that at the end of your prayer you are already changed for the better, even before you might receive the goal of your prayer request.
If even the most unjust of judges in today’s Gospel will finally relent to ceaseless petitions of a defenseless widow, then how much more will God — who is, after all, a good judge — answer your prayers, and in the manner that is the very best for your salvation.
While I will pray that you receive the actual goal of your prayer, keep praying no matter how long it takes. You may find, like the pilgrims of centuries ago, that you like the changes the journey itself brings.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Fr. Dave,
Perseverance reminds me of delayed gratification, this coupled with dedication to honesty and acceptance of responsibility are among the greatest disciplines obtainable and a pathway to authentic goodness and spiritual growth – your thoughts?
Thanks again for another wonderful Gospel Reflection.
Dio vi Benedica
Thank you for your comments as well!
Thanks Fr. Dave on your thoughts on persistence & Our way we must continue to pray God will work on answering our prayers…
Many blessings to you today also!!
Kathy
Thank you!
Loved your Gospel Reflection Father Dave!!! Forever,loving Prayers to our precious Jesus of LOVE work miracles!!! Prayer is a gift of love!! We are soooooooooooooooooooo blessed!!! Beautiful Faith, beautiful Life, beautiful Jesus!! We are soooooooooooooooooooooLoved!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!!!
Have a beautiful day sharing Jesus’ love with others!! Jesus loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee you so much and so do all your followers for you inspire everyone to live our Jesus’ LOVE!!
Guess whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo, a follower of our Jesus!!!
Thank you!
Perseverance builds character in trying to handle things. When we finish something
that is difficult, we feel like we have accomplished something!.
If we are persistent in prayer, believing and hoping in the Lord, He will not
abandon us.
Well said!
Dear Father Dave,
An interesting, beneficial lesson in how to persevere and move forward regardless of the bumpy road.
Yes, sometimes the journey itself is the lesson we must learn.
God bless you.
Kathleen A.
Thank you!