Commentary
Sunday, 10/20/2019, Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sometimes We Must Help Our Intercessor
First Reading Commentary: Exodus 17:8-13
Amalek waged war against Israel so Moses had Joshua pick men to go out and engage Amalek in battle. Moses told Joshua that he would stand on top of the hill with the staff of God and after Moses had climbed the hill with Aaron and Hur, the battle began.
Up until recent times, whenever there was a battle on the field, someone had the responsibility of carrying the flag which represented their army. If the flag bearer was struck down in battle, someone else picked up the flag. In essence, at this battle, Moses said that he would be the flag bearer.
But what Moses carried was not a flag. What Moses carried was unlike any other kind of symbol or banner known to be carried into battle. Moses carried the staff of God which means that the army of the Israelites was God’s army.
Anyone who believes in God and follows Jesus is a member of God’s army against the Amalek’s of today. When we wear a crucifix or a Miraculous Medal in true faith, we are carrying one of God’s banners and we proclaim to the world that we belong to His army.
During the battle, as long as Moses kept his arms up, Israel had the better of the fight but when Moses got tired and his hands fell, Amalek had the better of the fight. So, Aaron took one hand of Moses and Hur took the other so that the hands of Moses would stay up and Israel was able to defeat Amalek.
What we see here is God coming to the assistance of Israel to protect them from Amalek. But God did not come without the persistent prayer and intercession of Moses. There are two important messages for us in this story. First, Moses had faith that if he raised his staff to God and asked for help that God would come to the rescue.
We are reminded here that God is always there to protect us but sometimes we have to ask with faith. There can be no doubt in our believing that God will help us and there can be no doubt in God’s ability to help us. We have to believe that He both can and will help us.
Second, sometimes we need help. We see Israel being helped by Moses who interceded for Israel asking for God’s protection and salvation from defeat. But we also see that Moses, who by this time was an old man, also needed help in keeping his hands raised.
This teaches us that we must help each other. Sometimes we cannot do it alone. Not because God’s help is not enough—God’s help is always much more than enough. But because: God wants us to be there for each other and to support each other in the same way that He is there for us and supports us.
We may pray for someone asking that they change an evil way in their life. But in spite of how much faith we put into our prayer, sometimes our intention does not seem to be granted. The reason may be because the person that we are praying for has a hard heart and has committed themselves to not changing. That does not mean that we should stop praying for them. To the contrary, we should pray that much more for them.
In the case of Israel and Amalek, Israel had to want the victory and fight the fight. Also, Aaron and Hur had to show their support for Moses by assisting him when he got tired. The intercessor had faith, those being prayed for wanted the prayer to be answered and the intercessor had support. These are the reasons why Amalek was defeated. These are the things which will guarantee that our prayers be answered.
However, we have to remember that we carry God’s banner—not our own. It is by God’s intervention that the answers to our prayers and the prayers of our intercessors are delivered. It is not by our power—but by His.
Persistence and Patience
Second Reading Commentary: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
Paul reminded Timothy of his life-long knowledge of the Scriptures. He told Timothy that Scripture gives the wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ and that all Scripture is inspired by God. This was a testimony by Paul that Scripture is the Word of God.
Paul pointed out that Scripture prepares us and makes us ready to handle whatever the plan is that God has for us. But when Paul made this point, he said, “…one who belongs to God…” This means that if we are to hear the messages that the Scriptures have to offer, we must belong to God in faith.
Paul charged Timothy with proclaiming the word with persistence even when inconvenient. That is a lot easier said than done and yet we are all called to do just that. In today’s busy world, proclaiming our faith by doing simple things like engaging ourselves in daily prayer and going to church end up taking a back seat to other activities.
When we find this happening to us, we need to stop and think about what Christ has done for us. This is when we need to be persistent. We need to correct ourselves and find a moment to pray because even that simple act is a proclamation of our faith. If we pray asking God to give us the tools that we need to proclaim our faith in a deeper way, He will give them to us.
God’s Word will convince anyone with an open mind. God’s Word will also reprimand and encourage us because God’s Word will show us the right way to live and give us the strength and courage and fortitude that they need. So, Paul told Timothy to convince, reprimand, encourage and to teach.
Paul also told Timothy to be patient. However, notice that the first instruction that Paul gave in this reading was to be persistent. Here is why: you can be patient without being persistent but you cannot be persistent if you are not patient. When we pray or engage in any activities which proclaim our faith, we must be persistent and exercise patience.
Persistent Faith Is Patient
Gospel Commentary: Luke 18:1-8
In today’s gospel, Jesus teaches the disciples and us to be persistent without becoming weary. In the parable of the Persistent Widow, there was a judge who did not fear God and respected no one. A widow persisted in asking the judge for justice until finally he gave in because he was tired of her bothering him and he did not want the widow to strike him. Jesus said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.”
Jesus wants us to realize that this judge could care less about rendering any kind of justice for anyone. If it were not for the widow’s persistence which got on the judge’s nerves, and his fear of the consequences for failing to render justice; the widow would have never received justice.
Sometimes, our children nag and refuse to give up on what they want and drive us to giving in so that they will shut up. Sometimes, a spouse will do that to their partner too. Yes, I said it. (smile) But God does not get tired of hearing us because He does care; He loves us and possesses unending patience.
Jesus made that point when He said, “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call on him day and night…I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done…”
But then Jesus asked, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” With this question, Jesus teaches us that our persistence must be accompanied with patience which only comes with faith. With this question, Jesus is also telling us to PUSH which we all should know means: Pray Until Something Happens. It takes patience to PUSH which is persistent faith.
