When the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying, "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' And he would not for a while, but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

- Luke 18:1-8

In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught about the coming of the kingdom of God. He taught both Pharisees (in answer to their question about this subject) and His disciples. He taught that "Indeed; the kingdom of God is within you." It doesn't come by observation - and there will be no special secret place to find another Teacher, or where He will appear, but that it will be instantaneous and universal. Neither will we be able to predict who enters and who does not, who is taken and who is not. We are simply to practice vigilance in discipleship - and especially to develop spiritual eyes and ears through which to perceive and to understand how we are to live our lives as we await in this time period before His return.

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, . . . My study bible has a note that reads, "To pray and not lose heart is a vital step in preparation for the coming of the Lord." We remember that in the previous reading we are told that Jesus has just been teaching His disciples about "His day" - the day of the Son of Man, His return, and the coming of the kingdom of God. Here he is giving us further instruction about this time that we now live in - this time in which we await His coming. We are to always pray, and not lose heart. We turn to God as often as we need to; it is our strength and refuge.

My study bible has a note on the parable that follows, which reads: "This parable, fond only in Luke, illustrates the results of persistent prayer. If a helpless widow wins her case by persistent pleading before even a callous judge, how much more will God's elect find quick justice before a loving and righteous Father? Will Christ, upon His return, find faith on the earth (v. 8)? Each of us must take care to be part of His faithful remnant."

"There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'" We're introduced to the people in this parable: a judge who has no regard for God nor man. He is a man of his own disposition and understanding - and his own opinion rules his judgments. The widow is the helpless of the society, someone - we may imagine - to whom no one pays much attention. She is socially powerless, and she stands before a man who cares nothing even for the powerful who can bring great influence to bear upon him. And who is the adversary? We must only conclude that the adversary is all the temptations that face us in our worldly lives, to depart from God and the treasure of that spiritual kingdom within ourselves, that is "in our midst" but which we cannot perceive by sign or observation. Therefore, we must work to see this kingdom; it is an effort. And we have an "adversary" who gets in the way - and who perhaps falsely accuses in order to keep us out of that kingdom and from realizing our inner treasure.

"And he would not for a while, but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' " Clearly, even a judge that cares nothing for people will respond when repeatedly petitioned. Therefore we are to consider by comparison the kingdom and its laws of mercy and justice, and the nature of God.

Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily." Because we are precious to God, God hears our prayer. The Greek word translated as "avenge" here has an important root meaning: its root (δίκη) means "justice" or even more precisely conveys being in the right, self-evidently correct. So, in this story, we have a kind of redemption, a redeeming of the widow. Justice rules that she is in the right; she is correct - and that her adversary is wrong. It also implies legal protection, and exacting a penalty from the offender, her adversary.

"Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Will Christ find faith on the earth? I find this indeed a sad and somewhat wistful question. It says to me that His great concern was truly what would happen when His physical presence was gone - and we need faith in order to find Him and this kingdom that has no obvious signpost or guide. We are to continually pray to keep our connection with Him and with this kingdom - so that we may find our way speedily against that which harms or hinders us from it. The "Adversary" in spiritual literature is another term for Satan. The word here also means "opponent" but literally it is the "Anti-Justice" - that is, that which in this world antagonizes fairness or fair play, and that is indeed the role of "the Adversary."

In the First Letter to the Thessalonians, St. Paul advises us to "pray without ceasing" (5:17). This advice is also given in the context of being vigilant, and awaiting the return of the Lord. I have found in my life that certainly worldly justice is elusive for all of us. We're all familiar with the saying that life isn't fair. But as far as my spiritual perspective and my prayer life is concerned, I have indeed found a deeper reality in which God's justice dwells. Time may offer us consolations and treasures of the Kingdom which we receive where earthly justice fails - a deeper insight, a greater knowledge of ourselves, integrity and authenticity, spiritual gifts such as patience and strength, and even peace. Speaking strictly for myself, those gifts also include "all these things added" that I did not expect. I encourage everyone to seek this kingdom through prayer, strengthen faith, and remember that we are taught to pray without ceasing. The creative focus of that prayer, its centering us upon the true meaning and foundation of our lives, can do wonders to add joy and meaning and values we might never see nor know otherwise - and that do indeed defeat our adversaries. And there is indeed a deep and pervading justice in that, and in the rewards of faith. The way might not be easy - but the direction received, I have found, always has δίκη (as in the Greek root here). That is to say that, in the end, it is the "right" choice, and is vindicated by events that play out in my life. Remember His hopeful, and to my mind somewhat sad and painful question, "Will He find faith on the earth?"