What supports us in the times when things are difficult? Today, the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we hear the story from Exodus about the Israelites and the threat of Amalek. Aaron and Hur support Moses’ arms, keeping them up and raised, in order to win the battle. Then, in the second Letter of St. Paul to Timothy, we hear advice and encouragement by St. Paul to support Timothy in all the difficulties and struggles of his ministry. In the Gospel Jesus reminds His Disciples to pray always and He tells them the parable of the persistent widow. What is it that keeps us raised up, encourages us, supports and helps us to be persistent in our pursuits?
The advice of our Lord comes first, telling us about the necessity to “pray always without becoming weary.” We know that sometimes it is difficult to face life’s trials head on, to admit and identify problems, and then to pray about them for ourselves. We ask for prayers from friends, loved ones, our Community. We are supported by the Body of Christ itself─the people around us─and by those who pray persistently. We pray and support each other as in any good family, or between friends. We want the best for each other and all peoples: peace, wisdom, health, faith, hope and love, eternal happiness.
According to Webster’s, to be persistent is to stand firm, to go on resolutely in spite of opposition, to be insistent. (We have all experienced the persistence of a child who wears us down with wanting something!) St. Paul tells us to “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed (he is referring to Scripture), be persistent…encourage through all patience and teaching.” This advice is for all Disciples of Christ, not just Timothy. Persistence in prayer is the advice from the Gospel today, too.
There are many prayer opportunities for our parishioners at St. Aidan—maybe now is the time to see what you may pray for with the good of others in mind. Praying for others is good service in the eyes of God!
We are all asked to look carefully at our ability to serve the Community, to pray about this, and to decide what we can do to help to support our Community endeavors. Today in the Psalm we sing that our help is from the Lord. We know the old saying “God helps those who help themselves” but Scripture tells us that God loves those who help others who need help and service. How are we lifted up, supported, when life is tough? We pray persistently for others, and ourselves; we commit to and persist and persevere in serving the Body of Christ—and we have the support of Scripture, Community and the Eucharist to accomplish this task. At the end of the Gospel story Jesus asks that when He returns, “will He find faith on earth?” He will find it, in the faithful at prayer, and in service.
Keep praying!
Keep singing!
Just a Note: If you love to sing, please come and see me. I am looking for the young and older for all our ensembles. I need instrumentalists and vocalists who may serve our Community doing something they love and can share with all. Speak with me after any mass, or email me at: [email protected]. Music for God means praying twice!
Elizabeth Dyc
The advice of our Lord comes first, telling us about the necessity to “pray always without becoming weary.” We know that sometimes it is difficult to face life’s trials head on, to admit and identify problems, and then to pray about them for ourselves. We ask for prayers from friends, loved ones, our Community. We are supported by the Body of Christ itself─the people around us─and by those who pray persistently. We pray and support each other as in any good family, or between friends. We want the best for each other and all peoples: peace, wisdom, health, faith, hope and love, eternal happiness.
According to Webster’s, to be persistent is to stand firm, to go on resolutely in spite of opposition, to be insistent. (We have all experienced the persistence of a child who wears us down with wanting something!) St. Paul tells us to “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed (he is referring to Scripture), be persistent…encourage through all patience and teaching.” This advice is for all Disciples of Christ, not just Timothy. Persistence in prayer is the advice from the Gospel today, too.
There are many prayer opportunities for our parishioners at St. Aidan—maybe now is the time to see what you may pray for with the good of others in mind. Praying for others is good service in the eyes of God!
We are all asked to look carefully at our ability to serve the Community, to pray about this, and to decide what we can do to help to support our Community endeavors. Today in the Psalm we sing that our help is from the Lord. We know the old saying “God helps those who help themselves” but Scripture tells us that God loves those who help others who need help and service. How are we lifted up, supported, when life is tough? We pray persistently for others, and ourselves; we commit to and persist and persevere in serving the Body of Christ—and we have the support of Scripture, Community and the Eucharist to accomplish this task. At the end of the Gospel story Jesus asks that when He returns, “will He find faith on earth?” He will find it, in the faithful at prayer, and in service.
Keep praying!
Keep singing!
Just a Note: If you love to sing, please come and see me. I am looking for the young and older for all our ensembles. I need instrumentalists and vocalists who may serve our Community doing something they love and can share with all. Speak with me after any mass, or email me at: [email protected]. Music for God means praying twice!
Elizabeth Dyc
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