Homily for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C
Exodus 17:8–13; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2; Luke 18:1–8
Keep Praying, Keep Hoping, Keep Trusting
Dear friends,
Today’s Gospel tells us the story of a widow—a woman with no power, no voice, no advocate—pleading for justice from a judge who neither fears God nor respects people. Yet this widow does not give up. Day after day, she returns with the same plea: “Grant me justice.” And eventually, even this hardened, indifferent judge gives in—not out of compassion, but because her persistence wears him down.
Jesus shares this story not to tell us that God is like the unjust judge, but to show us that God is very much the opposite. If even an unjust judge can respond to persistent requests, how much more will a loving, attentive, just God respond to His children who cry out to Him day and night?
Let’s be honest—there are times when we pray, and nothing seems to change. We cry out in grief, in frustration, in fear. We pray for healing, for peace, for resolution, and heaven feels silent. We start to wonder: Does God hear me? Does my prayer matter? Should I keep going?
Jesus answers us with a resounding yes. This parable is for anyone who has ever been tempted to stop praying. Anyone who has grown tired. Anyone who feels ignored by heaven. Jesus is urging us: Don’t give up. Don’t lose heart. Your prayer matters. Your faith matters.
“As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight.” In this passage, Moses intercedes for the Israelites in battle against Amalek. If he holds up his hands in prayer, the people prevail. When he tires, Aaron and Hur support him—symbolizing the power of intercessory prayer and communal support during spiritual battles.
“Remain faithful to what you have learned… be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient.” Paul encourages Timothy to stay rooted in Scripture and to proclaim the Word boldly. This reinforces the need for spiritual perseverance and trust in God’s truth—even when it’s difficult.
And in the story of the widow, Jesus shows us what real, living faith looks like—not always loud, not always dramatic, but steady. Faith that keeps knocking. Faith that holds on. Faith that refuses to let go of hope, even when nothing seems to be changing.
Three Takeaways:
1. Prayer is not about wearing God down—it’s about wearing down our fear.
We are not trying to change God’s heart. We’re letting God change ours. Persistent prayer shapes us. It deepens our trust. It teaches us patience. It stretches our faith. It turns our focus away from what we lack to the One who provides. It doesn't mean pretending everything is okay—it means believing that God is still working even when we don’t see it yet.
2. God hears every cry—especially from those the world overlooks.
The widow in Jesus’ time had no status. She was poor. Powerless. Alone. And yet—she mattered to God. So do the overlooked, the ignored, the tired, the grieving, the desperate. Maybe that’s you today. If it is, know this: You are seen. You are heard. And your voice matters. God is a just judge, a good Father, and a merciful friend. He has not forgotten you.
3. Faith is not measured by feelings—but by faithfulness.
When Jesus ends this parable, He asks a haunting question: “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” That question is for us. Will He find a people who, despite trials, keep believing? Who, when prayers seem unanswered, still trust? Who, even through tears, still say: “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief”?
Beloved, don’t give up. Keep praying. Even if you’re tired. Keep hoping. Even if you're heartbroken. Keep trusting. Even when the answer hasn't come yet. Because you are not pleading with an indifferent judge. You are crying out to a God who knows you, who loves you, and who always—always—responds in mercy.
May we be found faithful. May our prayer become our strength. And may our persistence lead us not only to justice, but to deeper intimacy with the God who never stops listening.
Amen.
Have a splendid day!
