Weekend Reflections for 10/18/19

The bible readings for Sunday present us with several images of faith on the move. Both Moses and the widow who badgered the judge were people of prayer who never gave up. As long as Moses kept his arms stretched out in prayer he showed the people the possibility of justice, and God's mercy ultimately was manifested. At the core of any genuine prayer lies faith, a faith that is persistent, a faith that never gives up on the possibility of obtaining justice like that judge-badgering widow, a faith that reaches out for human support in the community in order to gather all together to God's presence.

Faith is indeed a journey which does not end until we see God face to face. A widow, a persistent widow who even nags to get what she knows she needs, is a model of faith for us. Mary is a model for our journey. As the woman who leads us in faith she has only two words to say: “fiat” (let it be done unto me) and Magnificat (my soul magnifies the Lord). Faith is our journey; it puts us on the move; it impels us to go out to others as Mary did; it challenges us to be pray-ers who do justice, live in a right relationship with others, especially those most in need.

In our experience of the Spiritual Exercises at White House, may we grow as persistent pray-ers, even to the point of badgering for the needs and rights of all on our common human journey.

-Fr. Ted Arroyo, SJ