Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 20, 2019
Today, in Mercy, our readings encourage us never to weary in our faith and prayer.
Look at Moses in our first reading! He keeps his hands raised in supplication throughout the entire battle, albeit with a little help from his friends.
This is a good reminder for us of the gift and importance of a praying community. There are times in every life when we need someone to hold us up in prayer.
In our second reading, Paul counsels Timothy never to grow weary in the pursuit of his ministry.
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
… proclaim the word;
be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient…
And in our Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the importune widow, who kept after the judge until she got the answer she wanted. Luke includes this information:
Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always
without becoming weary.
If a dishonest judge can be moved by persistence to grant justice, how much more will God do so for those God loves?
The point? Not that if we bug God, we’ll get what we want. Rather it is to remind us to stay in steadfast relationship with God who is always revealing the path of grace and wholeness to us.
So let’s take a clue from Moses. Let’s keep our hands up in faithful praise to God through all the blessings and challenges of our lives. By doing so, we will receive peace far beyond our persistent questions and concerns.
Total Praise – Richard Smallwood, sung by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
I have particularly loved this hymn from the first time I heard it sung by our wonderful Keystone Mercy Choir in my former workplace. The music itself is soul-shaking, but what most deeply moved my spirit was the faith of the singers, my beautiful workplace community. This video has the same effect on me – the faith of the singers and the audience is inspiring! (Lyrics below)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZME9t4nsCrc&feature=youtu.be
Knowing my health is coming from You
Your peace You give me in times of the storm
And You are the strength of my life, yes You are
I lift my hands in total praise to You
Knowing my health is coming from You
Your peace, You give me in times of the storm
You are the strength of my life
I lift my hands in total praise to You
You are the strength of my life
I lift my hands in total praise to
You are the strength of my life
Lavish Mercy 
It’s because we are engaged in a spiritual battle, that we must never allow weariness to lower our raised hands in prayer. Without the armour of divine grace, we’ll surely lose. Our battle isn’t against our neighbour but the dark principalities and powers, so St. Paul advises us.
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