Reflection for November 15 Saturday of the 32nd Week 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:

Do we always pray with persistence? Do we truly pray and pray without losing heart until we receive what we have been asking for from God? Jesus, in our Gospel, teaches us that we must remain steadfast in prayer. Even when what we seek seems impossible, we are called to pray persistently, because what is impossible for us becomes possible through Jesus.

In our Gospel today, we encounter a heartless judge—someone who neither feared God nor respected anyone. And yet, when the widow tirelessly approached him for a just decision, he eventually granted her request. Why? Because she refused to give up.

If we were in the place of the widow, knowing that the judge was impertinent and unkind, would we still persevere in presenting our request? Or would we simply walk away and surrender to discouragement?

When we bring our petitions before God, we are invited to cultivate a heart that does not tire of praying. We are urged to humbly ask Him again and again to grant what we seek, trusting that His timing is perfect and His wisdom far greater than ours. Never mind if His answer seems delayed; what truly matters is that we continue to pray, continue to trust, and never give up.

Life reminds us again and again that those who persevere—those who refuse to surrender despite trials, delays, or setbacks—eventually receive what they seek. This truth shines brightly in the persistence of the widow in our Gospel.

May we, like her, hold firmly to our faith and persist in prayer even when God seems silent, knowing that His love for us never wavers.

As we reflect today, we ask ourselves: When God seems slow to answer, do we persevere in faith-filled prayer, or do we quietly give up on the miracle He may be preparing for us? — Marino J. Dasmarinas