The Twenty Ninth Sunday In Ordinary Time Year C.

Readings

Exodus 17: 18- 13
2 Timothy 3: 14- 4: 2
Luke 18: 1-8

Theme: Let us persevere together as a family/community in our search for God’s support and guidance in various challenges.

In our various challenges, we need each other’s support on the human and faith level.   We must pray as a family or a community; “A family that prays together stays together.”  Our search for God’s support and guidance is traditionally called prayer.

In today’s Gospel Jesus urges His disciples (followers) not to lose touch with God in their day to day activities and never to give up: “You ought always to pray and not to lose heart.”    To teach a lesson of perseverance in search for God’s support, Jesus gives a story of a corrupt judge and a poor widow who persistently sought justice from the judge.  Eventually, her perseverance impelled the judge to grant her justice in order to get rid of her.   He said,

“She will wear me out by her continual coming.”    So Jesus poses a rhetorical question to emphasise His message: “Will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night?  I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily.”

Perseverance requires strong faith sustained through social support systems.    The first reading portrays an exemplary scenario of perseverance and social support.  As we celebrate Mission Sunday today, let us meditate on the meaning, purpose and support required from the Baptised who are the family of God in the Ministry of Christ.

The first reading depicts the battle between Israel and Amalek whereby Joshua led the army to battle and Moses sought God’s support by raising up his hands in prayer. As Moses’ hands grew weary, they were supported by Aaron and Hur who held his arms up one on one side, and the other on the other side.  As such, Moses’ hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Our advice: try the top-rated Linux VPS server. The result of these concerted efforts was Joshua’s success in the battle against Amalek: “Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with edge of the sword.”

Therefore, perseverance, faith and support for each other as a community of God are crucial for a successful mission of Christ’s Church.

In the second reading, St. Paul gives us the tools required to persevere

and to build the foundation of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus and acquaintance with sacred writings: “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the family of God may be complete, equipped for every good word.”

The tools are embedded in God’s inspiration through the scriptures.  The scriptures are used to teach, reprimand, correct, and train for righteousness.  They also inspire   prayers, spiritual reflexion / meditation and guide liturgical celebration especially the Eucharist which highlights the suffering, death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Msgr. Gerard Kalumba
Christ the King, Parish Kampala