SUNDAY 29 (C) October 16, 2010
Exodus 17:8-13; 2 Tim 3:14 – 4:2 Luke 18:1-8
“When the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?” Jesus leaves us today with a poignant – almost mournful question. Nonetheless, each of his parables has a positive goal. They mean to challenge us, but certainly not to leave us breathless and reeling from a rhetorical mugging. The parables have, instead, a diagnostic function. They aim to show where grace, light and healing may be found. An ailment is diagnosed, and the Divine Physician in his mercy unerringly indicates the only path to genuine health and wholeness. Thus – e.g. with the Pharisee and Publican – the antidote to toxic self-righteousness is urgent and heart-felt repentance. In the Good Samaritan, we see how the seemingly safe and limited idea of neighbour becomes dangerously universal – and one previously regarded as a stranger or even enemy is praised as a model of compassionate response to suffering.
Today, we see an unworthy judge who finally does the decent thing – for ignoble reasons. Jesus, in effect, challenges us to come clean. Do we really have such a low opinion of God; seeing him as a time-serving and heartless member of the Bench? Secondly, he holds up a mirror before us in which we can see ourselves as both Widow and Judge. The Widow has got right on her side. However – albeit understandably – her long struggle makes her obsessive and possibly even somewhat pig-headed.
For us too– as with Widow and Judge – it is our very dissatisfaction with others and possibly self (the Widow) – and our eventual grudging willingness to render at least imperfectly what we owe to others (the Judge) which may be the first faint glimmer of an opening to God’s grace. A narrow opening, perhaps, but one which may in St. Benedict’s words see us “run on the path of God’s commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.” And of course, this change can only come about through a generous search for God in prayer. In such a relationship, we may come to see – even in this life – some of the signs of God’s wise and loving response to our real needs (rather than our whims and selfishness). Then – like Moses supported by his brethren Aaron and Hur – we can find the strength and courage to remain steadfast until our own sunset comes, and God in his mercy grants us lasting and perfect peace and victory over the Enemy.