Weekly Bible Study

20 October 2013
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Exodus 17:8-13; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2; Luke 18:1-8

A story is told of a man who began praying in church and was heard mumbling. The mumbling became increasingly louder, ending in shouts and cries. Bothered by the noise, a nearby woman remarked: “If you lived closer to God, my friend, you wouldn’t have to yell so loudly."

Living closer to God sometimes requires less volume and more quiet persistence. Moses is persistent in prayer when he raises his arms in confidence. His companions, Aaron and Hur, persist with him. We see it also in the instruction to Timothy to be persistent in proclaiming God's word, whether convenient or not. And like the widow of today’s gospel, who of us has not banged repeatedly on the door of God’s heart to make our needs known?

We are often persistent in prayer, like the widow, when our need feels great. But might there be more to persistence than an occasional volley of words?

In today’s gospel, Luke offers us a clue to the “more” of persistence when Jesus instructs his disciples to “pray always.” Does Jesus want his followers to mumble “Hail Marys” and “Glory Bes” every moment of every day? Probably not.

Jesus’ instruction to pray always suggests that persistence in prayer is more a matter of attitude than of action. It is more a matter of living closer to God so we don't have to shout so loud.

We pray always when we keep God close in mind and heart no matter how busy we are or how distant God may seem. We pray always when we are attuned to God’s presence around us in the  midst of our daily activities. We pray always when we bring our faith to every nook and cranny of our Christian life.

If we cultivate an attitude of true persistence we will not have to bang on God’s door to get God’s attention. If we live closer to God, we are aware of God's constant presence, listening always, and so when we do want to pray with words we approach with confidence. Anytime.

And by our attitude as much as by our words we answer Jesus' question in today's gospel, "Will there be faith?" with a resounding, “Yes, there will be faith!”

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.

Editor: BJ Daly Horell