Saturday 16 November 2024
St Margaret of Scotland; St Gertrude
3 John 5-8. Happy are those who fear the Lord – Psalm 111(112):1-6. Luke 18:1-18.
Power of persistence
Some years ago there was an advert for a fast food chain that consisted of a young child pestering his parent to let him do numerous unsafe or unsuitable things and the parent’s response was always ‘no’. In the final scene the child asks if they can go out for fast food. You could see the parent about to frame the word ‘no’ when he realised what his son had asked, and the relief at being able to say ‘yes’ was palpable. I’m sure this resonated with all parents. That feeling that all your responses to your children is in the negative can be draining.
In Luke’s parable of the unjust judge, we learn of a man who finally gives in to the pestering of a widow in search of justice. A woman without power learned the power of persistence.
There are lessons for us in our interactions with God, Luke tells us. If even an unjust and ungodly judge gives in to constant pleading for justice, why would God deny those who cry to him day and night?
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