Faithfulness

November 18, Saturday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings:  Wisdom 18: 14-16; 19:6 – 9; Luke 18: 1 – 8

Many priests today say that the West has lost faith in Christianity, and many other priests say that Asia will also reach this level. Today is the right time for us to discuss the faith of our future generation.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives a parable about the unjust judge and the widow. The widow succeeded not because of the righteousness of the judge but because of her ceaseless efforts. Saying this, Jesus not only teaches his apostles to keep praying, but he also raises one strong question about finding faith on earth.

From this lady, what kind of faith does Jesus want us to have? We can point out two important aspects of her faith. The first is her firmness amidst struggles and misery. She, being a widow in a male-dominated society, even after experiencing dominations, injustices, and struggles, is keeping up her firmness in obtaining the justice she deserves. The second is her act of faith. She not only kept up her firmness in her demand for justice but also put it into action.

The Gospel says that she kept coming to the judge. It doesn’t mean that she was coming; she was fighting with the judge for her justice. Today, we need to learn these two in our lives.

Today, if we look properly, not only in the West but in the entire world, we can see real Christians who keep their faith burning amidst any struggles. They not only keep up the faith but also put it into action in their day-to-day lives.

Jesus wants such faithfulness in his church. Let’s learn from the widow.