#persistent widow

A: Psalm 63 communicates King David’s profound love for God. So deep was his desire for intimate fellowship with the Lord that, even in the desert, David longed for Him more than water:

“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1, NKJV).

The phrase translated “early will I seek You” in the King James Version is rendered differently in most modern translations. For example: “Earnestly I seek you” (NIV, ESV), “I eagerly seek you” (CSB), and “I earnestly search for you” (NLT). In the original Hebrew, the concept of seeking in Psalm 63:1 refers to diligent, wholehearted searching that involves a strong desire focused on developing a relationship with the desired object. Seeking the Lord early in the morning may result from our eager, earnest longing for fellowship with God, but there is no biblical requirement for when we must pursue Him.

On another occasion, David declares, “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11, ESV). Seeking the Lord in prayer is something believers ought to do at all times, continually, and without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17; see also Colossians 1:9–12). Epaphras prayed “always” and “earnestly” for the Colossians (Colossians 4:12). In Luke 18:1–8, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow to show His disciples that “they should always pray and never give up” (verse 1).

Seeking the Lord in prayer is not about checking all the right boxes. Instead, it’s about developing a living, vibrant, spontaneous relationship with God our Father. Many Christians get too caught up in rules. They want to know, “When should I pray? Should I pray early in the morning or late at night? How often do I pray? Should I sit down or stand up? What words are appropriate to say?” Jesus put an end to all these concerns when He answered the Samaritan woman’s questions about worship: “The time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23–24, NLT).

Seeking the Lord is not a matter of when, where, and how. It is a matter of the heart. Any time is the right time to draw near to God in prayer (Acts 17:27; James 4:8). If we pray and seek the Lord sincerely, from the heart, He promises to hear us (1 John 5:14–15). His invitation is always open. Jesus welcomes us to come, release our heavy burdens, and find rest in His presence (Matthew 11:28).

Unlike some religions that stipulate prayer at certain times and in specific postures, the Bible does not mention such formal regulations. Asking the question, “Do we have to seek the Lord early in the morning?” is similar to asking, “Do I have to talk to my spouse or children early in the morning?” We seek the Lord out of our desire for intimate fellowship with Him, just as we speak to our loved ones as part of our natural, interpersonal relations among family members.

We can seek the Lord early in the morning (Psalm 5:3; Genesis 28:18–22; 1 Samuel 1:19; 2 Kings 6:15–17; Psalm 88:13; 92:1–2; Mark 1:35), late at night (Psalm 141:1–2; Genesis 24:63; 2 Chronicles 7:11–12; Ezra 9:5–15; Psalm 42:8; Matthew 14:23; Luke 6:12), and any time in between (Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10; Acts 3:1; 1 Timothy 5:5). The apostle Paul said he prayed “often” and “day and night” (Romans 1:9–10, NLT; see also 2 Timothy 1:3). “Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith,” wrote Paul to the believers in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:10, NLT).

Rather than viewing prayer as an obligation to fulfill, David reminds us in Psalm 63:1 to see our time in fellowship with the Lord as a profound privilege. Instead of asking, “Do I have to seek the Lord early in the morning?” we will begin to think, “Wow, I get to seek the Lord early in the morning!” or “I can’t wait to seek the Lord early in the morning!”

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”"

I am partial to the Gospel according to Luke. I think his writing is good at telling the story and leaving room for the hearer to work though the implications of it all.  Some of the most memorable parables – the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, Lazarus and the Rich Man, and more are all unique to Luke’s gospel.  As do many parables, there is a stark contrast between the two main characters.…

Today, the Church celebrates World Mission Sunday, a day to remember that every baptized person is called to share in the mission of Christ — to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth through prayer, witness, and love. It is fitting that our Gospel reading today is about persevering prayer. Continue reading Sacred Heart Formation House, Cagayan de Oro City, 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, World…

The gospel for the 29th Sunday, the parable of the “Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow,” concludes with: 7 Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? 8 I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Jesus’ comments make clear the…

The gospel for the 29th Sunday is the parable of the “Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow.” Language and etymology can tell us a lot. The word chḗra, meaning “widow,” derives from a root meaning “forsaken.” Widows are associated with others who are disadvantaged, e.g., orphans, aliens, or day laborers. They suffer wrongs (Is. 10:2) or loss of rights (1:23). They are held in low esteem (54:4);…

The gospel for the 29th Sunday is the parable of the “Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow” which begins in v.2, “There was a judge in a certain town.” A more literal translation: There was a certain judge in a certain town, echoes a previous passages – a certain rich man who experienced an abundant harvest or a certain rich man (fool) who lived in purple garments and fine linens but never gave…

The gospel for the 29th Sunday is the parable of the “Unjust Judge and the Persistent Widow.” This parable is a twin of the parable of the neighbor in need (11:5-8). Both are used to illustrate the importance of persistence in prayer. Both present a person in need persistently pressing a request, and both parables call for reasoning from the lesser to the greater: If a neighbor or an unjust judge…