HOMILY FOR THE 29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

Exodus 17:8-13; Psalm 120:1-8; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2; Luke 18:1-8.

 

“PRAYER IS KEY!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      Last Sunday, the Gospel taught us about the prayer of thanksgiving. A grateful heart is pleasing to God for it is humble, obedient, and full of trust in divine providence. This Sunday, we have another lesson on prayer, and this time it is about the prayer of petition. The Lord tells us that, “ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will be opened unto you.”

·      Our simple catechism teaches us that prayer is the raising of our minds and heart to God. It is a communication link between us and God. If there is no relationship, there can be no communication. 

·      For many of us, it does not just make sense to pray since we think that God no longer answer prayers. If our prayer is delayed, that is when we should be more persistent and we must persevere because, if we do not get what we are praying for, while we are praying for it, there is no chance that we shall ever get it if we stop praying.

·      It is rather funny that when we advise people in great travail or those who are losing hope in God, we are quick to remind them to be steadfast in prayer that “God’s time is the best”. God’s time can only be the best when it concerns others but when it concerns us, our time must be the best. We give God an ultimatum and timeline in which he must answer our prayers.

·      We hear expressions like “I want a life partner now!”, “Look here, God! I want you to do this for me next week or else”, if you don’t do it, you will see what I will do to you. I will stop praying to you; I will stop going to church, I will change my church, if I act don’t blame me, blame yourself. When our prayers are delayed, we put God on trial!

·      God is not our errand boy, he is our creator and God. Hence when we refuse to pray to him, we are preyed upon. We must not forget that God’s plan for us is ultimately for good and he will always do his will in his time.

·      St. Paul in his fatherly advice to Timothy in the second reading (2 Timothy 3:14-4:2), carefully reminds him and indeed all of us, the power of praying and meditating with the Scriptures. The Scriptures is a prayer tool. He was taught using the scriptures, especially the importance of prayer for refuting error, guiding people's lives and teaching them to be holy. 

·      Sadly, a lot of us now see prayer as old fashion. Sadly, fervent prayer which should be the lifestyle of every Christian has rather become a burden. We only remember to pray only when we are in need or in trouble. 

·      In the first reading (Exodus 17:8-13), we see that fervent prayer guarantees success, it guarantees victory, guarantees good results. Hence, to be successful and to weather the storms of life, our hands must be consistently lifted up in prayers. We must be in constant communion with God.

·      In Moses’ lifting up of his hands in prayer, we see the communitarian dimension of prayer. We see that as a community of believers if we raise our hands up in faith and storm heaven in prayer, heaven will surely reply.

·      We need each other and we must support each in prayers. Prayer too can become one of the highest forms of charity done to someone apart from giving alms and other relief. Notice that if Moses’ hands were lifted up not necessarily for his own sake but for the sake of the people, the Israelites gained victory.

·       In the Gospel reading (Luke 18:1-8), we see that prayers can change a pagan into a saint, an unbeliever into a believer, a lion into a lamb, a Wolf into a pet, an obstinate and unjust judge into a generous and compassionate social activist. 

·      The judge finally agrees to advance justice for the woman not for “goodness sake” but for her “persistence sake.” The tactful judge senses a dilemma. Knowing her to be unrelenting, the judge knows that any judgment that goes against her will bring about more persistence for an appeal. On the other hand, his inaction is already putting him on the spot.  Finally, the widow gets an affirmative answer; case closed!

·      We do not get what we pray for because we lack patience. The widow in the parable was patient and persistent in her request to the corrupt judge. She just would not give up, knowing that her request is just and right. Patiently waiting is a clear sign of faith and confidence in an all-knowing and all-loving God.

·      Persistence breaks resistance. The Gospel reading tell that the man neither feared God nor man. But persistent prayers changed that completely. Persistent prayers shattered every obstacle withholding her testimony.  

·      We too as Christians of this era must develop a voracious appetite for prayers. Even when things are OK with us we must pray, even the scriptures tell us that “we should pray always” (1 Thess. 5:17).

·      A praying Christian is a powerful Christian. To be protected and provided for, we need prayers. We need prayers that are backed by deep faith. In fact, it is when we do not feel like praying, that we should pray more. It is not only when we are in need that we should pray. And that is why we have different types of prayer: petition, thanksgiving, supplication, etc. 

·      We learn today, that as God lives we must never give up in life. We must keep the flame of faith burning, we must keep hope alive. Our persistence will surely bring us testimonies.

·      Today the Lord is saying to you and I, don't give up, your miracle is on the way. When the storms of life and challenges seek to overwhelm you, sing to the Glory of God and take it to the Lord in prayer.

·      No matter what our story is, every faith-based and Christian prayer must end with “Let thy will be done not mine” knowing that God’s will is eternally good and beneficent to us his creatures.

·      Why is prayer important? Because “Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 120:1), if we need God’s help, then we must pray until something happens (PUSH).

·      Let us pray with more faith, trust and persistence, so that when the Son of Man comes – and it is not any more remote – we will be found worthy to welcome Him and be with Him in His kingdom through Christ our Lord, Amen!!!

·      Happy Sunday!!!