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 as 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."  My study Bible says that this parable must be understood in the light of Christ's predictions in yesterday's reading, above.  It comments that prayer which is persistent ("cry out day and night") and faithful ("will He find faith on the earth?") is the remedy for the tribulation He has just described in Luke 17:22-37 (see above).  In his First Letter to the Thessalonians, St. Paul writes of prayer practice, "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 prayer and times of testing, we have Christ's words to the disciples in the garden of Gethsemane:  "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41).

"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 He is speaking of characteristics that are rarely found (see Luke 11:11; 12:42).

Clearly, persistent prayer becomes a remedy and antidote for many things, but this is particularly notable at times of difficulty, testing, and strife.  Prayer is recommended as necessity for keeping us focused on the right way forward, and discernment in times of struggle.  In commentary on the words of St. Paul noted above ("Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"), my study Bible notes on the practice of constant prayer that this is the way to spiritual growth.  Perhaps in particular we might pay attention to the following verse in St. Paul's letter:  "Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:19).  For again, as we have noted across the readings of the past few days, it is the presence of the Holy Spirit that guarantees the Church and the presence of the kingdom of God, and this must be our focus.  How do we root ourselves in the Spirit, and make ourselves those for whom the kingdom of God is always present, with us and within us? (See yesterday's reading, above.)  The answer is the kind of persistent prayer that Jesus illustrates with today's parable of the Persistent Widow.  For this is truly how we need to root ourselves, and how we stay oriented toward the Kingdom at all times.  It seems important that we notice that tribulation is built into Christ's prophecies of end times.  That is, for believers, there really isn't a different picture of how the future unfolds through the times of the birth of the Church, and this time in which we look toward His return.  If we think we see things that are frightening, challenging, testing, tempting, then -- at least in terms of what our Scriptures tell us -- we should not be surprised by it.  Perhaps this perspective conflicts with modern ideas about progress, about history constantly improving the lot of human beings.  But again, this is not the complete picture according to Scripture.  We can look around at our world and see plenty of violence accompanying progress in technological terms, with new fears and possibilities on the horizon.  What we should ask ourselves, however, is not so much about this big picture of progress in one dimension or another, but rather the state of the usual culprits against human well-being:  violence, abusive and coercive power, manipulation and falsehood, and restrictions on the freedom to worship and honor God.  How does our progress rate on those historical scales that have always been with us?  We live in a highly developed consumerist society, and so seemingly have no end of new progress to be made in terms of goods.  But what of basic human well-being, and the integrity of life and respect for human boundaries, including the sacredness of Ilife?   Let us consider also that the greatest impact seems always to fall upon the "least of these."  This focus is important, not to emphasize a drastic or dire pattern, but to wake us up to the importance of being what Christ calls "awake."  That is, the opposite of what He termed sleeping.  We are meant to be ready, alert, always on our toes regarding our spiritual obligations and understanding.  Christ's version of what it means to be mindful and alert is to keep our eyes on Him.  We must put prayer as a first priority, in order to retain the focus we need, and to know what we are about.  For this is the crucial thing, for us to be aware of His word and not caught sleeping at His return.  One of the things my study Bible mentions is the practice of the Jesus Prayer, a way to "pray without ceasing," in the words of St. Paul.  For prayer is our greatest weapon against the temptations, and the sleight-of-hand misdirection that evil circumstances can bring us, steering us away from our true calling.  Let us count our blessings and take courage and confidence in our faith.  Most of all, let us learn from today's parable, about the importance of our own persistence in God's love and prayer.  Let us turn to His greatest emphasis, embodied in His question:  "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" 

 

 

 

 

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 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, "This 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 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?"  My study bible tells us that persistent (day and night) and faithful (find faith on the earth) prayer is the remedy for the tribulation just described at the end of chapter 17.  (See above, in yesterday's reading; 17:22-37, Jesus speaking to His disciples about His second coming.  For the prayer that is proper at all times, see also 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.)  Jesus asks, again referring to the discussion of His second coming in yesterday's reading (above), "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  My study bible comments that the Lord often uses this form of question when He speaks of characteristics that are really found (see 11:11; 12:42).

Prayer is frequently referred to in the Gospels.  Most often, we are given periods in which we observe Jesus going off to pray alone, and other times when the disciples request to learn how to pray (see, for example, Luke 11:1-13).  It's important that we understand Jesus' reference to prayer in the context of the "end times" He's just spoken about (in yesterday's reading, above).  In this light, these times are not presented as happy or joyful, but times of tribulation, of difficulty, and even of injustice.  This is what we read into Christ's teaching about prayer in today's reading.  The implication is about injustice that will be suffered by those who are followers of Christ.  In the poor widow, and the unjust or unrighteous judge, we're given a perspective on the need for persistence in prayer.  The judge, who doesn't really care about the values of God nor the problems of human beings, says to 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."  Jesus compares God, who deeply love humankind, to such a judge, who, although he is not a kind or righteous man, wishes to adjudicate favorably for the widow simply because of her persistence.  So Jesus is not simply inviting but insisting upon our continual prayer as response to our circumstances, especially in times of persecution and difficulty or travail or any kind.  Let us note that He begins with an assumption of circumstances that are not fair nor just.  He is teaching the disciples that they will be entering upon times in which injustice will befall the faithful on worldly terms.  The woman says to the judge, "'Get justice for me from my adversary."  While it is not clear to which worldly adversaries Jesus might be referring when He speaks to the disciples, it is clear in the context of the Gospels who "the adversary" is, and that behind all else that we see in this world, there is a spiritual battle going on into which we enter as disciples of Christ.  In the long run, because of Christ's words, warnings, and teachings, we're given to understand that as part of His Church -- that is, we who carry His Kingdom within us and among us -- we are to expect tribulation in the world.  We can expect setbacks, and we can expect injustice, unfairness.  But, again, turning to the Gospels and the teachings of Jesus, we should not let any of these things daunt us nor keep us from our mission as disciples.  Instead, Jesus offers us medicine, a remedy, a plan.  Our plan is to pray.  It is simply to devote our time to prayer.  How many of us think of prayer as the alternative when things don't go our way, or when our expectations come crashing down?  Do we think first of prayer when we have setbacks or unfairness becomes an issue in our lives?  We might think of everything but that, if social media and popular remedies to injustice in the public eye prevail in our minds.  But the truth is, if we look at the Gospels and Jesus' teachings for us, prayer is where we should start.  In fact, prayer is indispensable and eternal as a need.  Jesus speaks of this widow as so persistent that even the unjust judge has to rule for justice for her just so she doesn't pester him any longer.  This is the kind of persistent person Christ shows us as a model for our prayer.  We are to pray constantly, "day and night."  Let us keep in mind that the word translated as "avenge" more literally means to justify or vindicate.  Our prayer might not be met with the outcome we anticipated or specifically wanted, but nevertheless, we will find vindication.  In the long working out of the things of life concerning justice and injustice, and especially our spiritual lives, I have personally found this to be true -- but it took faith to recognize it.  Most poignantly, Jesus asks His final question:  "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  It is still His return, His second coming, that He has in mind here -- and the time in which we are now, the "end time," in which we await His return.  Remember His words about prayer, and especially about faith.  I find that both are so necessary at this time, and one isn't truly possible without the practice of the other.

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 the 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."  My study bible suggests that here Jesus is referring to times of tribulation that He has just described.  In yesterday's reading, above, Jesus states, "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."  Elsewhere also, of course, the description of the times of the end and its difficulties is more vivid -- see Matthew 24 with its mixed descriptions both of the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem, and also of the time before His Return.   The remedy for these difficult times?  Persistent and faithful prayer.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, St Paul describes prayer "without ceasing" (or constantly) as a proper practice for all believers.

"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  Jesus poses a question in a form He uses elsewhere to indicates something rare (see also 11:11; 12:42).

When Jesus speaks of Judgment, it is usually to indicate the terms on how we will be judged.  But here, He speaks of justice on different terms, and it is in a tradition of the Old Testament of a judge who is a deliverer, someone who requites wrongs done to the innocent, a liberator.  Job, for instance, wants more than anything else to be given a hearing with God, and of course, for God to answer (see Job 38-42 for this event).  Jesus is giving us fair warning of the difficulties that will come to believers in the world, and teaching us how we are to respond:  with persistence and prayer.  The widow is also a character who appears all over the Old Testament as one who is both poor and powerless, and for whom God would demand justice (see these few examples out of many in all of Scripture).  James says in his epistle:  "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).  Often coupled with orphans in a plea for justice and righteous conduct, widows represent those who have no clout, no one to defend them nor to fight for them, the humble of the world.  Even in today's world and the best of justice systems, we understand the difficulties and disparities in justice between the poor and unworldly and those for whom connection -- and still family connection -- power, and wealth may be at work.  In ancient times, justice really depended upon the family or clan and its capacity to render a claim or redress a wrong.  Such is the nature of the world we live in that this stands as a universal experience.   God's plea throughout all of Scripture is that God's people must be concerned for the widow and the orphan, for righteousness to the humble and powerless.  Indeed, when describing Judgment, Jesus names those things in which we may be remiss as that which will cast us out of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 25:31-46).  But here, He clearly indicates the position of the faithful as those who are among the poor and powerless, those whose ways aren't "worldly."   While the world demands that we be an insider, Christ calls us to be outsiders (see John 15:19).   And we have our Judge, our Deliverer, and the way to His hearing is through constant and persistent prayer.  Humility means a dependence upon God, a persistent attempt at relationship through prayer.  Our job is to never lose hope --  or rather, "lose heart."  Actually,  the Greek word ("enkakein") translated as "lose heart" indicates a state of being inundated with weariness from what is evil.  God's love demands of us not only our own righteous behavior, but also that we persist in our faith.   When Jesus teaches in the Sermon on the Mount that we must keep "asking, seeking, and knocking" (Matthew 7:7-12), this is also understood to indicate a state of constant prayer.  So when it comes to understanding "justice," and by this we are given to know He speaks of God's justice, there are really two demands upon us.  The one is for righteous behavior as in the passage on the separation of sheep from goats; that is, we picture Christ Himself in the place of the widow and the orphan, those who are in need particularly of justice.  The other is when we find ourselves in this place, we are asked not to sink into despair nor give in to the evil with which we may find ourselves perpetually surrounded, to continually pray to the Judge and not "lose heart."   We also have examples of widows in Old Testament Scripture who convey such a message, such as Ruth or even Judith.   Let us note that consistently in both cases, the Judge is Christ or God; we are not the judge.  The struggle He paints for us is real; and it is an internal struggle at all times.  Whatever it is we are faced with in the world, there is always one thing necessary, our faith and our dialogue with God.  And there we are to remain until the very end.  Like Job, we may find that God's answer isn't always the one we demanded, but we will find, with wisdom, that it is actually better than what we asked for.

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 a 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 it will 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 a 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."  In yesterday's reading, Jesus described tribulation to come to the world (see above, 17:22-37).  My study bible says that persistent and faithful prayer, as described by the tenacious widow in Jesus' parable, is the remedy for that tribulation.  Prayer is the "recipe" for our way of life in this time that we live in.  St. Paul teaches, "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).  All of these things:  rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks, refer mainly to prayer.

"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 a question when speaking of characteristics that are rarely found (see also 11:11, 12:42).

The time of tribulation and testing isn't only about a period just before Christ's return.  It is a certain way that we can think about the period we live in now, the age, which begun with Christ's Incarnation and will continue until His Second Coming.  It is a time of testing, that requires discernment on our part.  There's a struggle going on, a spiritual battle.  Christ is the "stronger man" who has come to bind the "strong man" (see Luke 11:21-23).  With this description, Jesus responded to those who accused Him of casting out demons by the power of demons.  In effect, what Christ described is something He has come here to do, to claim His authority in our world -- over that of the "prince" or "ruler of this world" (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11).  What that indicates is a kind of power struggle going on, a spiritual battle behind the scenes of our world, one in which we struggle -- as followers of Christ -- with things that may oppose our faith and our work in discipleship to Him or as servants of Christ.  This isn't like a political battle in the world we see around us, nor is it manifest as some sort of real-world military battle.  This is a battle that goes on in the midst of us, where we meet the kingdom of God that is within us.  It's a battle in which we struggle within ourselves, because it is a battle for hearts and minds, for souls.  Therefore the key to this particular struggle is discernment.  The way to help our capacities for discernment, to arm ourselves in the struggle for faith, is through practices that shore up our own discipleship -- but the main weapon is prayer.  In fact, one could say that all practices of the Church:  almsgiving, fasting, worship, thanksgiving, etc. are forms of prayer.  They are ways of communion with the One whom we serve.  We rely on His Holy Spirit.  We seek relationship always with the Father, Son, and Spirit.  Where one is, there the others are also.  To stay in communion -- to pray --  is to choose a side, to wage a battle, to struggle for one's own faith.  And so, St. Paul teaches us, "Pray without ceasing."   It is upon this kind of struggle that Christ establishes His Church in the world, and gives us the Kingdom within us.  And He asks, "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"   This question is not for the time of His return, as He's made perfectly clear that we don't know what time that is.  It is always asked for right now.

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 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 aid 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 . . .  Here my study bible inserts a note that persistent and faithful prayer is the remedy for the tribulation just described (in yesterday's reading, see 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."   I love that Jesus uses a widow for His example.  It gives us a picture of what makes a person truly strong.  A widow would possibly be the most powerless person in society; this is, apparently, one who has no one else to fend for her or to get justice for her.  Her only hope is this particular judge.  It's a very strong teaching about the power of persistence, how persistent prayer is the strongest tool we have for our lives, for justice in the world.

"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, 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).

Jesus' question, at the end of today's reading, is a very poignant one.  He's speaking of His Return and also preparing the disciples for His Passion and the time when they won't see Him anymore, after His Ascension.  "Will He really find faith on the earth?" seems to me an extraordinarily wistful kind of question, and one that gives us an assurance of the totally free will possessed by human beings.  This is the end of His mission that is approaching.  All that He has said and done, the establishment of His Church, the choosing of His disciples, His entire earthly ministry, is coming to a close and has been done but for this purpose:  for the faith of human beings.  And here He questions, "Will He really find faith on the earth?"  It's a strong affirmation of our own tendencies to dismiss what is good, to devalue what is the most meaningful and powerful help we have,  to take for granted all that is and all that we have.  We have to remember that this isn't just any human being saying these words out of discouragement or a bad situation.  These are the words of God incarnate, of the Christ who is the heart-knower, the One who knows us best.  As such, we have to take them very, very seriously.  The value of faith is something unsurpassable, a kind of foundation for our lives that gives us all kinds of strengths, in many ways.  This image of a widow is of someone without means, who needs help to get justice in her life.  Her persistence is grounded in her faith, and it's an image of persistence in prayer.  My study bible notes how it references the sort of tribulation just described, but let's understand St. Paul's words in 1 Thessalonians that we should "pray without ceasing."  This is a teaching for all times, and for any type of tribulation.  It's a teaching for the whole of our lives.  And, maybe even more importantly for the purposes of Christ's teaching in today's reading -- and especially His poignant question at the end of it -- it is the weapon we have to increase and deepen our faith.  It is communion and communication with God.  It's our way of engaging our faith in the most intimate and personal way.  And this is what is really indispensable for our own age and our own time, regardless of the circumstances.  Let us take His words to heart and remember that we are, at heart, like the widow, reliant upon God.  Nevertheless, we, too, could ask, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?

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

 Now 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, 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?"  My study bible says of today's passage that it is "persistent (v. 7) and faithful (v. 8) prayer" that is the that is the remedy Jesus gives for the tribulation that was described in yesterday's reading (Luke 17:22-37), above.  It also refers us to 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, in which St. Paul admonishes us to "pray without ceasing."   Jesus poignantly asks after this teaching, "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  My study bible says that the Lord often uses this form of question when He speaks of characteristics that are rarely found.

After teaching about His Second Coming, and also about the times to come after His death, Resurrection, and Ascension, Jesus gives us a parable to live with in the times that may present tribulation to those who would be His disciples, who love Him:  we are to pray.  Prayer, in this particular story of the Tenacious Widow, is the answer to our survival, endurance, patience, and abiding in the times we are in now -- a time in which we look to His Return.  He doesn't promise us "a rose garden," but rather difficulties.  Just as in the parable of the Wheat and the Weeds, given us in Matthew's Gospel, we grow side by side with those who would "choke us" or make life more difficult.  We may be subject to the cares of the world and the work of the evil one, in whatever form we find it.  Life, as one of His students, isn't going to be simple or easy.  But there is one powerful weapon we have, and He names it in this story.  We have prayer.  Prayer isn't a one time wish request.  In this image, it's not just a set of things on a wish list.  It's a prayer for justice made by the widow, for a fair hearing, even from an unjust judge.  And it's a prayer made "without ceasing," with tenacity, accompanied by the inner strength of endurance, of conviction, and most especially, of faith in Christ or in God, in something much bigger than whatever it is -- even something rooted in injustice -- that the world may present us with.  Prayer is the means of survival and endurance, the answer to our need for strength, the way in which we put our faith to work, and the way in which our faith becomes shored up in us.  Nevertheless, He asks, "Will He really find faith on the earth?"  What an incredible question this is for Him to ask.  He asks as if knowing, for example, that we of 2,000 years later still await Him, we as a Body experience tribulations in this world, our brothers and sisters suffer, and there seems to be so much evil and death and injustice of every kind.  It is among us that He wishes to find that faith on the earth, and that He wonders if, at His return, He will really find faith awaiting Him and present.  So let us consider truly how important the imperative of prayer is; it is with us as something we must engage in all the time -- no matter what it is that is going on in our lives, no matter what it is that we pray for, no matter what the challenge.  I recently experienced a very difficult episode of my own, another case of injustice, a problem that lasted thirty years.  It was only prayer that gave me strength (and guidance) for seeing it through.  I confess that only through prayer I found the strength and endurance to finish and resolve, and do things God's way -- to solve a problem in which I had to be the one to step up and do what it took to finish it.  Relying on God becomes a way of life in this world as we await the great Judge who sets all records straight.  Relying on prayer gives us not in a simplistic formula what we ask for, but rather the means, the answers, the strength and courage through faith that God puts our way when we face challenges.  It is the greatest solution, and it is also the greatest necessity for our survival as faithful.  Will we be tenacious enough to see it through, to practice and to continue in practice even when we can't see the light at the end of our particular tunnel?  Will we understand God's way to pursue justice, and have the faith to carry it out?  Will we be like the tenacious widow?  Will He really find faith on the earth, after He has given, and loved, so much?  How would you answer this sad, almost wistful, question?

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

In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught about the coming of the kingdom of God.  He was asked by some Pharisees when this would come.  He 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 told His 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 housetops, 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 says that "to pray and not lose heart is a vital step in preparation for the coming of the Lord."  We remember that this comes just after His teaching about His Second Coming.  Jesus is one the way to Jerusalem, to His Passion, death and Resurrection.  So this is an important part of His instruction regarding the time that we find ourselves in now, awaiting His Return.

. . . 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.'"   This isn't the first time Jesus has spoken of persistent prayer using the comparison to someone who hasn't the capacities equal to God.  In Luke chapter 11 He's said to His disciples, "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”  Here the comparison is to an unjust judge, one who has neither regard for God nor for man, but cares only for his own opinions.  But persistent prayer or petition has an effect even in this person unmoved by others.

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?"   My study bible says here:  "This parable, found 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?  Each of us must take care to be part of His faithful remnant."

If we put this parable in the context of awaiting His return, we find ourselves in a place where God is set forth as true Judge.  And the implication here is that all things must be put squarely in the hands of God, and we rest in our petitions as prayer before God.  I think that whatever it is, Jesus implies, we put it before God -- and persistently we do so.  It is a kind of dependency He teaches here, similar to a certain type of understanding that we rest in God.  Ultimately, all kinds of injustices, He seems to say, will be borne in this world.  Certainly this will be the experience of His disciples and apostles and all the early Church as they are persecuted for His name's sake.  But ultimately, we can also extend this outward to those of us who live with His word in our hearts and hope in His truth.  What is it that we have in life that may be our own cross to bear?  What are the things that cause us pain, and the experience of injustice?  Recently I was speaking with a lawyer involved in a legal petition that I know of, and he said to me, "There is no justice in the court, only in the afterlife."  I can only reflect on Jesus' teaching about relying on God here.  He encourages persistence in prayer, an advocacy for ourselves before God that is constant, and a reliance on and faith in God.  Speaking for myself, I have found that a conventional sense of justice in all cases isn't always rewarded, but in time God's plan works out something better, something that in fact offers me a life of different and better values and strengths, and the urging to continue forward in His Way.  God will always ask us to come back, again and again.  Nevertheless, when He returns, will He really find faith on the earth?