Ex 17:8-13.  Ps 121.  2 Tm 3:14-4:2.  Lk 18:1-8

Deacon Jim McFadden

         Today’s Gospel concludes with a troubling question that Jesus poses to us: “…when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

(LK 18:8b).  While Jesus is referring to the 2^nd Coming, he’s also saying to us right here, right now “will I find a bit of faith in you  and in your  day in 2025.”  This is a serious question and if he would come into our midst what would he see:  soul-deadening wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan; extreme poverty amidst so much opulence.  At the same time, he’d see amazing technological achievements such as AI which could be a force for either good or nefarious purposes.  Would he find people glued to their screens, falling into the techno-rabbit hole of doom scrolling, and rushing about, never stopping and ending the day psychologically and spiritually spent?  And, more to it, would he find people who put him first.  And, getting personal, what would Jesus find in you and me, in my life, in my heart?  What priorities would he see in my life?  Is Jesus the foundation of my life?  Is my life about him or does my heart lie elsewhere?

We have to contend with so many urgent things in our life—in our political, economic, and social domains—that sometimes we feel overwhelmed.  But, as important as these are, they are secondary realities: they are not the ground of our being.  But, because we can get caught up in the turbulence of our ordinary experience, we can neglect what matters most and allow our love for God to get lukewarm, then grow cold, which can happen bit by bit.  What is the remedy?

         As Pope Francis would frequently remind us, the Church is a field hospital for wounded broken people.  And, as Jesus told us in Mark’s gospel that “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Mk 2:17).  That’s us, brothers and sisters: we’re spiritually sick and we need the divine physician and his medicine.  And, what is Jesus’ medicine: PRAYER, which is tonic for the soul.  But for prayer to be effective, it needs to be constant.  If we’re going to undergo a treatment to get better, we need to follow a regimen to take the medicine regularly in the right way at the right times.  This is just common sense.  Think of your houseplants: we have to water them consistently every day.  We just can’t soak them one day, then leave them without water for weeks on end.  Even more so with prayer.  Not sporadic or hesitant prayer, but continuously so that the channel between God and us remains open.  If we just pray when we feel like it, do it in spurts, then the divine energy will occasionally spurt, but may, like the houseplants, dry up.  Instead, we should pray just as Jesus tells us in the Gospel: “Pray always, without ever losing heart” (Lk 18:1).  This is the Christian way of life: remaining steadfast in prayer in faith and testimony.  Do you see how they go together because we can’t give what we don’t have.

         Here once again we may hear the negative voice within us: “but, Lord, how can we not grow weary?  We are human…just look at all the problems,  conflicts, and crises that face us personally and as a community.  It just gets overwhelming.  Also, I don’t live in a monastery or a convent.  My life is a whirlwind and I don’t have much time to pray!” 

         To get in the flow of prayer, start with something manageable, such as short, easy to remember aspirations.  When you wake up say, “Good morning Jesus!”  And, as you begin your day, say “Lord, I thank you and I offer this day for you: for your praise and glory and for the good of my family, people in need, etc.”  Then as your day unfolds and you embark on different tasks, bring in the Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy Spirit.”  Allow the Holy Spirit to flow within you as you move about.  When you run into road bumps, pray thus: “Jesus, I trust in you.  Jesus, I love you.”

         What these short aspirations do is keep us connected to our Lord Jesus and soon we will desire to spend more time with him in the Quiet where we can be still.  And, we can hear his voice as he responds to us in the Gospel, which is the Word of God.  In between tasks, open up a Bible app, go to the readings for today and let Jesus speak to you, which will initiate a conversation between both of you.

         People of God, if we pray always, the Holy Spirit can pray within us and God can do awesome things through us no matter how modest they may appear.  We can be conduits for his divine power which can transform and renew us and our world.  We are challenged to pray always and not lose heart. 

         May the Virgin Mary, faithful listener, teach us the art of praying always without losing heart. Amen. 

Reflection Questions:

1. We hear in today’s Gospel: when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Would Jesus find genuine faith in you?
2. What is your prayer life like?  Is it regular, disciplined, and fruitful.  Why or why not?
3. Does your prayer life draw you closer to Jesus?