Reflection for October 19, Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Luke 18:1-8

Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, 'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.'

For a long time, the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.

The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. 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? 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?"

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Reflection:

Is prayer an essential part of our everyday lives? What do we do after we pray? Do we simply lie down and wait for the answers to fall from heaven?

The Gospel for this Sunday reminds us that persistent prayer, when coupled with steadfast action, moves the heart of God. Jesus tells us a parable about a persistent widow who kept coming to a judge, asking again and again for a just decision. She never gave up until her plea was granted. Her unwavering persistence became the key to her victory.

In the same way, when we pray, we humble ourselves before God. We open our hearts to the boundless blessings He longs to pour upon us. As we nurture a habit of prayer, we grow in our relationship with Jesus. We no longer remain distant acquaintances — we become His close friends, walking with Him daily and letting Him be at the very center of our lives.

When prayer becomes an essential part of our day, we become more aware of God’s presence in everything we do. We begin to see His hand at work in both the ordinary and extraordinary moments of our lives. Prayer strengthens us, molds us, and deepens our trust in Jesus, who is always just a prayer away.

Let us make prayer the heartbeat of our daily journey. Let it not only be words spoken but faith lived out through our actions. When we are prayerful, we carry with us the assurance that Jesus is near, listening, guiding, and loving us without end.

Will we allow prayer to simply be a routine, or will we let it transform us and draw us closer to Jesus every single day? — Marino J. Dasmarinas