Nevertheless, 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 men, 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 

 

Yesterday we read that when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!'  For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."  Then He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!'  Do not go after them or follow them.  For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.  But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.  And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:  They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot:  They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.  Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.  In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away.  And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.  Remember Lot's wife.  Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.  I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed:  the one will be taken and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding together:  the one will be taken and the other left.  Two men will be in the field:  the one will be taken and the other left.  And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?"  So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together." 

 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 men, 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."  My study Bible sets this parable in the context of the teachings in yesterday's reading (see above).  Jesus has just finished teaching the disciples about the "end times" to come; that is, the whole of the period from the time of the Incarnation (and when He will no longer be with the disciples after His Ascension), until the present day.  ("The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.")  It is a time of tribulation that He described in yesterday's reading (Luke 17:22-37; see also 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  The remedy for such a time, Jesus teaches in today's parable, is persistent and faithful prayer.

 

"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  My study Bible comments that Christ often uses this form of question when speaking of characteristics that are rarely found (see Luke 11:11; 12:42). 

In Matthew's chapter 24, Jesus teaches the disciples about the end times, as in the reading from yesterday.  The entire chapter is taken up with this same subject.  In the midst of the chapter, and speaking about the tribulation the Church will experience, He says, "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (verses 12-14).  To endure, then, becomes the byword in all the warnings we're given from Jesus for the end times, and especially for the times of tribulation that might come to the ranks of the faithful in the Church.   What does it mean to endure?  Surely the picture of persistence is in endurance, just as it is in the parable we're given today.  In the story of the Persistent Widow, Jesus speaks of a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.  This is a person unpersuaded by God or man.  But simply through her persistence, she would effectively get to him in a way that nothing else could, from his fear of being wearied by her.  Comparing God to this judge, Jesus suggests that if even such an unmovable judge, with disregard for both God and man, could be persuaded by persistence, just imagine how God will respond, who loves God's own elect,  who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them.  This suggestion of the word "avenge" by Jesus indicates that this isn't just about prayers on our part like a laundry list of things we'd like to have, but a response to genuine pleas for justice, responding to the tribulations that come, from harm to the innocent, and endured for the sake of our faith.  This picture of persistence and endurance is one of forbearance and unflagging faith that sparks continual effort and prayer.  Perhaps what we need to remember in the light of Christ's parable is that this era of "end times" followed the giving of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and is all about preparation for judgment which will occur at Christ's return.  Jesus taught the disciples at the Last Supper, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  of sin, because they do not believe in Me;  of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged" (John 16:7-11).  This era of end times in which we live is one in which the Spirit is at work discerning sin, righteousness, and judgment:  ultimately those acts of injustice and tribulation which fall into the desires of "the ruler of this world," the devil, become the things about which we pray for justice, for the vengeance that is God's (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30).  There are so many ways we look for justice in the world, but let us not forget Christ's words about endurance, persistence, and faith.  Let us remember whose justice we pray for, and the one place true justice is found. Many will say in exasperation that this challenge is hard, and the bar is set high.  Still others will ridicule, and say that it makes no sense.  Perhaps knowing this, Jesus asks, "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  Let us endeavor to endure, and persist, and be present in our faith at His return.  For we each have a cross to bear, and we follow Him.

 

 

 

 

Nevertheless, 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 wn 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 

 

Yesterday we read that when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; now will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!'  For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."  Then He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!'  Do not go after them or follow them.  For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.  But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.  And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:  They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot:  They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.  Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.  In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away.  And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.  Remember Lot's wife.  Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.  I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed:  the one will be taken and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding together:  the one will be taken and the other left.  Two men will be in the field:  the one will be taken and the other left."  And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?"  So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together." 

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart . . .  My study Bible comments that persistent and faithful prayer, as is exemplified in the parable that follows this statement, is the remedy for the tribulation just described (see yesterday's reading, above).  See also 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

. . . 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?"  Of Christ's final question here, "Will He really find faith on the earth?" my study Bible says that the Lord often uses this form of question when speaking of characteristics that are rarely found (see Luke 11:11; 12:42).  Note the emphasis on both persistence and faith in prayer, as we "cry out day and night" to God through prayer, and His emphasis on the faith He hopes to find at His Second Coming.

The Persistent Widow is a story, as the Gospel tells us, which is meant to convey that we always ought to pray and not lose heart.  To modern ears, perhaps, we hear this story of a widow pleading persistently with a judge, and maybe we wonder what that has to do with praying -- and specifically with our praying, our particular prayers.  Are we pleading with God for revenge against someone who's harmed us?  But didn't Christ teach us not to seek vengeance (Matthew 5:38-42), and to love our enemies (Matthew 5:43-48)?  Why are we hearing a story about a tough judge, with no fear of God or regard for human beings?  Well, the whole point of this parable is about the effectiveness and power of prayer.  Jesus has just taught about the "end times" and the difficulties and tribulations which are coming (in yesterday's reading; see above).  Essentially, He is preparing the disciples -- and us, the future members of His Church -- for the difficulties ahead.  That is, the end times that begin after His Ascension and as we await His Second Coming.  He knows our faith will be a spiritual struggle, and He likens us to a widow, who feels she has no power and authority, nothing with which to persuade the judge, no clout nor material power, and no coercion to use to her advantage.  She has only the judge to rely upon, so she turns to what she has available to her:  she is capable of being persistent and pleading before the judge.  And this is where we are when we pray.  This doesn't necessarily mean that when we pray we are simply asking for things we want, or complaining about our lives, or any of the sort of demands we might think of in a courtroom.  But as analogy, this is a different kind of a courtroom.  This is a courtroom (and a Judge) where our souls are in the balance, and the care of our spiritual lives in this world.  Do we go through difficulties that challenge our faith?  Is life a struggle in which we seem to be scarce of resources for our own resilience or security?  Do we struggle against our own difficulties or personal weaknesses and flaws?  The real answer to all of these questions is in prayer, for Christ's purpose in telling this parable is simply to remind us of the power that is persistence itself -- in the frequent, daily, regular engagement in prayer before our Father the ultimate judge.  This "unjust judge" is not an image of God -- but if even an unjust judge will rule in one's favor because of persistence, how much more do we think God hears us and hears our prayers?  It is an assurance that in this communion, we are heard, but that we need to do our part by being persistent, enduring in the practices of our faith and especially in regular prayer.  To engage in prayer is to come before God, to participate in the life of God, to be engaged in that courtroom, so to speak, in the place where God hears.  In practicing regular prayers, like, for example, the practice of the Jesus Prayer, of using regular prayer rules like Prayer of the Hours, we spend time before God just like the persistent widow.  We become regularly engaged in this place that sustains us and gives us hope -- and will respond with what we need.  Often, I find, prayers are answered seemingly indirectly, through inspiration, an idea we hadn't thought of, a strength we suddenly find, a way of going forward.  But regularly remembrance of, and engagement with God through prayer is essential, especially during periods of difficulty or darkness in our lives.  Let us be persistent and endure in our faith, as He teaches.

Nevertheless, 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 

 

Yesterday we read that when Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!'  For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."  Then He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!'  Do not go after them or follow them.  For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.  But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.  And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:  They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot:  They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.  Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.  In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away.  And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.  Remember Lot's wife.  Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.  I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed:  the one will be taken and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding together:  the one will be taken and the other left.  Two men will be in the field:  the one will be taken and the other left."  And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?"  So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

 

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?"  Of Christ's parable, my study Bible says that persistent and faithful prayer is the remedy for the tribulation which was just described by Jesus (Luke 17:22-37 included in yesterday's reading, above).  My study Bible also refers us to the words of St. Paul:  "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).  Regarding Christ's final question ("Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"), it says that the Lord often uses this form of question when speaking of characteristics that are rarely found (see Luke 11:11, 12:42).  

I personally find Christ's final question extremely poignant.  Here Christ has come into the world on this tremendous mission of salvation, preaching the kingdom of God whose access is through prayer and worship.  On this, His final journey toward Jerusalem and the Cross, He asks if, when He returns, "will He really find faith on the earth?"  It gives us a sense of the struggle of this world, how troublesome and difficult our faith can sometimes be.  We're told repeatedly that the prince of this world is the evil one, and that our struggles are against "principalities and powers."  St. Paul writes, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12).  The struggle for faith is real, as every form of heresy or discouragement seems to come our way at times.  There are also the false expectations about faith.  People seem to think that leading a good life means one will never be troubled, or down, or face particular hardships.  But that's not really the experience of the Church, nor is it the picture that Christ is painting for us.  We will face all kinds of temptations, for example, and temptations are not the stuff of cartoon imagery or a list of sins of which we need to beware.  Temptations are the things that trip us up because they are the places we're vulnerable, our cherished wishes and desires, the things we wish were true, the shortcuts we'd like to take.  These are not easy nor simple things.  Life is complicated in a grownup struggle against one's own weaknesses, or ignorance, or lack of experience with something.  Our greatest weapon in this struggle is prayer, as Christ indicates in the parable we're given.  And He teaches us that we must be prepared to be persistent.  This is not going to be easy or simple, or a one-off request.  This is a life of effort -- and faith, He implies, is worth it.  It's possibly the most precious thing that we have.  After all, it is those with faith for whom He will return.  He seeks us out.  Let us justify the faith He places in us.

Nevertheless, 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

Yesterday we read that when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!'  For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."  Then He said to the disciples, 'The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.  And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!'  Do not go after them or follow them.  For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.  But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.  And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:  They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.  Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot:  They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.  Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.  In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away.  And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.  Remember Lot's wife.  Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life will preserve it.  I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed:  the one will be taken and the other will be left.  Two women will be grinding together:  the one will be taken and the other left.  Two men will be in the field:  the one will be taken and the other left."  And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?"  So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart . . .  We recall here that Jesus has just taught the disciples about the time of His return, the Second Coming (see yesterday's reading, above).  But in the meantime, life will go on as it has, but they will long to see Him in the flesh.  Here is the requisite "posture" for His followers in this time in which we now live, while we await His return, and those with faith encounter struggle and difficulty.  We 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."   This widow is an image of the Christian who struggles only through faith, and without necessarily worldly stature or support.  My study bible says that persistent and faithful prayer is the remedy for the tribulation described in yesterday's reading, above (17:22-37).  He has also warned the disciples that in this time after His Ascension they will "long to see one of the days of the Son of Man," and they will not see it.  The widow's constant and persistent pleas before the judge are an image for us of our own persistent and faithful prayer.  My study bible reminds us of St. Paul's words to us:  "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). 

"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  My study bible says that Christ often uses this form of question when speaking of characteristics that are rarely found (see 11:11; 12:42). 

Christ asks if, at His return, will He really find faith on the earth?  He uses the term Son of Man to denote His presence in the flesh, as Jesus, and the fullness and presence of His Person in the world, similarly to His Incarnate life.  But His own plaintive question here is one that is stirring, because it tells us about His fondest hope and wish and also the rarity of that faith.  In the modern West, we might perhaps live in a time and place where we find it startling to wonder if there are those remaining for Him to find on the earth who have faith in His Gospel.  But Jesus, as always, tells us the startling and vivid truth with this question.  Faith is rare and difficult.  It will require of us a struggle.  We will face adversity, coming both from within ourselves and from the world.  It is simply in the nature of things as they are, the world as it is, and forces that remain beyond our control.  And perhaps here is one key to today's reading.  There are so many things that are beyond our control.  We can't necessarily control other people at all.  We might not even find we can control ourselves or our impulses, the things that give us pain and heartache, the sadnesses, anger, rejection, and the myriad other struggles we encounter in our lives.  And so, Jesus gives us the image of a widow, one who is without worldly support, without others to advocate for her and protect her.  In the ancient world, justice systems -- while they were recognized as necessary and developing -- frequently required or relied upon assistance of family or clan for a favorable outcome.  Even today, with systems of justice created with the best of intentions, we are all aware of the need for good advocacy, which comes with a price, and good public relations and community ties.  Perhaps we are all too sadly aware of what it is to seek appropriate attention to a complaint if one is alone or isolated or without stature and funds.  In the image of this widow, we are given the appropriate understanding of our place before God:  we are to be persistent and faithful in our prayer, in our pleas before God.  Whatever it is and whoever we are, this posture is the one that is appropriate for a follower of Christ.  It is not simply a necessary part of our faith, but faith itself is that strength that develops from a more fully developed reliance upon God than we considered we had yesterday.  In other words, if I may be so bold as to consider Christ's words here in their fullness, what He asks of us is a faith that grows through the daily and even constant practice of prayer.  In this is our reliance and our real strength.  Everyone, sooner or later, faces adversity.  If we seek to follow Him, we might face more than most.  But the true and central ingredient in life, especially for those circumstances which are beyond our control, is faith, a reliance on God.  Jesus says, "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."    In the Greek, the word "avenge" also means to justify or vindicate, to execute justice.  We don't always know what form God's justice will take, but what we may find is that through faith, life works out in particular ways on a deeper and grander scale than what human justice would dictate.  We may suffer in a present and particular circumstance, but a life lived in faith has a way of teaching us something and giving us growth for the long run, wisdom through our experience coupled with prayer, insight not available to those who live on the surface and trust only in the worldly.  With Christ, we get down to what is truly real, and find the justice of the heart, and the long way round of working out what we see and hear in this world.  We may find, as does this persistent widow, that a deeper sense of justice than is understood otherwise may come to us with our faith.  But, oh how rare that faith might really be!

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?"