TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, CYCLE C

Open with a prayer: Lord, thank you for gathering us together. In your word today, you speak to us about the importance of persevering in our prayers of petitions and intercession. Teach each of us how to become prayer warriors before your holy throne. Grant us your Spirit so that we may hear the message you have for us today. This we pray through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Sharing of life question: How was your week? How did you experience God this past week?

Facilitator reads focus statement: The first and third readings speak about the importance of persevering in the prayers of petition and intercession. In the second reading, Paul stresses the vital importance of sacred scripture in the life of the Christian.

If you haven’t read the commentary on the readings, consider reading before or after each reading.

FIRST READING: Exodus 17:8-13

This reading is a beautiful example of God partnering with us to achieve a victory. Moses sends Joshua and his men down to the valley to engage Amalek, while he, Aaron and Hur remained on the hill and entered into intercessory prayers for the men in the valley. As long as Moses and his men persevered in prayer, the battle went their way, but when they let up, Amalek and his men started to win the battle. The story beautifully illustrates that in the battles of our lives we are partners with God. As the old adage says: We must act as if all depended on us and pray as if all depended on God." Without God we falter, but God expects us to also do our part.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM 121

The psalmist expresses great confidence in God. Trust is a key ingredient of effective prayer.

SECOND READING: 2 Timothy 3:14 -- 4:2

The aging and imprisoned Paul is writing to the young Pastor Timothy whom he had ordained. He instructs him in his responsibilities as pastor. He exhorts him to do three things. First, hold fast to the traditions he has received. Second, use Scripture for his own ongoing formation and for the formation of his people. Third, Timothy is exhorted to persevere in his ministry of preaching God’s Word "in season and out of season," since God’s Word is good for correcting, exhorting and reproving.

GOSPEL: Luke 18:1-8

This gospel story features three characters: a widow, her unnamed opponents and an uncaring and unjust judge. The issue could have been an inheritance one. The widow symbolizes the powerless one with no rights seeking justice from an unscrupulous judge. It seems her cause is impossible, but her persistence wins the day. She wins without the help of a "dream team." Point: If an uncaring judge will respond to our plea for justice, how much more will a caring God respond to our prayers? The story is also a powerful example of a woman’s perseverance in a fight for justice. A person with no power is seeking justice from a corrupt person in authority. On this level, the story tells us justice is achievable even in the most unlikely of situations.

FAITH SHARING QUESTIONS

1. What verse or image spoke to you most? Why?

2. The Amalekites were the enemies of the Israelites on their journey. Name some "Amalekites" that you have to deal with on your journey. What helps you to fight those battles?

3. In the second reading, Paul exhorts his readers to be persistent in proclaiming the word whether it is convenient or inconvenient. When is it inconvenient to proclaim the gospel? What might help you to face this challenge?

4. Can you recall from your life an example of a time when hard work and persistent prayer helped to bring about some desired result?

5. Why in today’s society is perseverance such a difficult virtue and quitting so tempting a vice?

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Name one way you can act on these readings. Invite someone to be your prayer partner as you deal with the issues in your journey. Support in any way you can, those who are battling the causes of the powerless in our society.

CONCLUDE WITH PRAYERS OF PETITION AND INTERCESSION