不斷祈禱
那時候，耶穌給門徒設了一個比喻，論及人應當時常祈禱，不要灰心。耶穌說：
「某城中，曾有一個法官，不敬畏天主，也不敬重人。
「在那城中，另有一個寡婦，常去見那法官，說：請你制裁我的對頭，給我伸冤吧！那法官，多時不肯。
「以後，那法官心裡想：我雖然不敬畏天主，也不敬重人。但是，因為這個寡婦，時常來煩擾我，我還是為她伸冤，免得她不斷來糾纏我。
「於是，主說：你們聽聽這個不義的法官，說了什麼！天主所召選的人，日夜呼籲天主，天主豈能不為他們伸冤，而拖延俯聽他們嗎？
「我告訴你們：天主必要快快為他們伸冤。但是，人子來臨時，能在世上找到信德嗎？」
路加福音 18:1-8
Photo courtesy of freebibleimages.org
在這主日的福音中，耶穌跟門徒講了「不義判官和寡婦」的比喻。路加也清楚指出這個比喻的目的是教人應時時祈禱。比喻中那位「不敬畏天主，也不敬重人」的法官，面對那位卑微寡婦的不斷哀求，終於決定為她伸冤，以免被她不斷纏擾。既然不義的法官最終也願意給寡婦伸冤，只要我們有恆心的不斷向仁慈的天父祈求，祂一定會聽我們的祈禱。
但這是否代表不論求什麼，只要有恆心，天主就一定會答應？比喻中寡婦所求的是公義，而這是絕對符合天主旨意的，因祂本身就是公義。如果我們要祈求符合天主旨意的事，唯一的方法是祈求我們的心能日益肖似祂聖子耶穌的心。
這篇福音以耶穌的提問作結：「但是，人子來臨時，能在世上找到信德嗎？」耶穌提醒我們在等待祂再來的日子裡，一定要滿懷信心，持久地祈禱。如果那位卑微的寡婦能以靠著堅忍而等到法官為她伸冤的一天，我們也必定能依靠恆久的祈禱等到耶穌再來履行正義，給義人帶來永福。
這篇默想由生命恩泉文摘編輯小組撰寫，內容以下列文章為根據: Commentary on Exodus 17:8-13, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 and Luke 18:1-8, 常年期第二十九主日.
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?"
Luke 18:1-8
In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus told His disciples a parable of the unjust judge and the widow. Luke points out clearly that the purpose of this parable is to teach the necessity for people to pray always without becoming weary. In the parable, the judge who "neither feared God nor respected any human being" finally decided to deliver a just decision for the widow, to prevent her from bothering him. Even the unjust judge can be made to yield to the pestering of the widow, when we pray persistently to our merciful Heavenly Father, He would certainly answer our prayers.
But does that mean we could ask God for anything as long as we pray persistently? In the parable, the widow asked for justice, which conforms to God's will since He Himself is justice. If we are to pray according to His will, the only way is to pray that our hearts would become like Jesus'.
This reading ends with Jesus' question: "But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" Jesus reminds us to remain faithful and steadfast in prayers while waiting for His coming. Just as the humble widow received justice at last through her persistence, through our persistent prayers, we could also see the coming of Jesus who will triumph over evil and give us justice and eternal happiness.
This reflection is prepared by the FLL Inspire editorial team as a digest of the following two articles: Commentary on Exodus 17:8-13, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 and Luke 18:1-8, 常年期第二十九主日.
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