St. Mary's Catholic Church of Tomahawk, WI

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We are on the twenty-ninth ordinary Sunday of year C. In the first reading we hear that as long as Moses kept his hands raised up, the battle was in favor of Israel. The other characters in the passage supported Moses in this task. This reminds us that in the struggle for life and survival we as a community need to support, help and cooperate with one another to win the battle of life. As a member of the community of faith, how do we contribute our share to get through the challenges of life?

The second reading appeals to the authority of sacred Scripture, which imparts wisdom which enables us to recognize the truth of the Good News. Sacred Scripture provides important lessons that prepare a person to accept the gift of Salvation offered through Jesus Christ. How much importance do we wish to give to the sacred Scripture in our life? Does it play the role of light and lamp on our way?

In the Gospel the Lord focuses on the need for prayer in preparation for God’s coming kingdom and judgement, emphasizing the wisdom of constant prayer. The persistence in prayer is the key theme of the Gospel. The widow in the passage persistently requests the judge to render a just decision, for which eventually the judge does what is right. The Lord concludes that God who is our just Judge, cares for all, especially the vulnerable, to those who persevere in prayer. Do we persist in our prayer always?

Fr. Aloysius Royan Anthony