Reflection for 19th Sunday after Pentecost – O Lord hear our prayer – nag us to life.
The gospel from Luke contains the parable of the ‘nagging widow’ who wears down the resistance of the uncaring judge so much he gives her the justice she asks for. Luke specifically says it was told by Jesus to his followers to stress their need to pray always and not to lose heart.
So how do we keep believing when our prayers for justice are unanswered?
The Collect – the prayer of the church – for this coming Sunday might contain some clues:
“O Lord,
tireless guardian of your people,
teach us to rely, day and night, on your care.
Drive us to seek your justice and your help,
and support our prayer lest we grow weary,
for in you alone is our strength.”
God is tireless, a nagging guardian that is never worn out in the care of people. Night and day, seamless time.
It is only God through Christ who can teach us how to rely on our guardian God’s timeless, ceaseless care.
With the nagging God driving us we are spurred on in bringing God’s justice to this world, with God’s help.
And we can learn to rest in the nagging widow’s godly arms when we run out of puff.
Now I’m off to ask some of our wise elders how they go on believing.
Blessings
Ceri
