The Widow Who Persevered

Pastor’s Column

29^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 19, 2025

“Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?  Will he be slow to answer them?”

from Luke 18:1-8

The parable of the unjust judge and the persistent widow is an appealing image. Who cannot see the humor in this story when Jesus relates it: the judge finally relents to this widow’s constant requests because he fears that she’s going to beat him up if he doesn’t! I have a hard time picturing an elderly woman doing violence to a judge, but Jesus uses such stories to drive home a point about our relationship with God. Like the judge, God does not always appear to care. Sometimes we are being taught to persevere.

Who among us has not had the experience of not having their prayers answered right away? Sometimes it seems more the rule than the exception. Notice how often Jesus talks about this subject of perseverance. This widow has gone before the court over and over and over again. It would at first appear as though the judge does not hear or perhaps has better things to do. But in reality, this is meant as a spiritual growth experience – a test. Will she persevere? Will she keep asking? Will she keep the faith?

Of course, God is not really an unjust judge – but he can appear to be. Our world is filled with injustice and with people who seem to be getting away with breaking every commandment and even prospering because of it. Why does God permit this? This is so in part because we are all still in the middle of our temporary life on earth, where God waits and gives all of us time to repent and turn back without forcing the issue. Although even in this world we begin to see justice occurring in many cases, it is only at the beginning of the next when everything will be put right; and at that time those who have done injustice to others will find they got away with nothing, they accomplished nothing and they profited nothing, because the judge was watching everything.

The Lord takes a risk in dealing with us in this way. He takes the risk that we will lose faith in him. In fact, at the end of this gospel he says, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on the earth?” This implies that not everyone is going to persevere through this test, but this is the only way that we can be free to choose God and exercise our free will which is the greatest gift that God has given us. How can we ever say that we trusted God if we always see him, always get what we want, and never suffer? Indeed, can we really say we love our spouse or children if we’ve never been willing to suffer with them, or put up with them when they are disagreeable, or to make sacrifices for them? Would anybody call that real love? So, it is the same with God. He gives us opportunities to persevere in prayer and service so that we will grow in our love and trust of God. Everything in our lives is geared toward this end.

Father Gary