20 October 2019. 29 Sunday of Ordinary Time. Cycle C.
Once again Jesus uses a parable to give us his teaching. The Evangelist tells us that he used it “to explain to his disciples how they had to pray always and without being discouraged”. The parable is that of the defenceless widow who seeks justice from an unjust judge, and does not stop until she gets attended to.
We tend to read this parable as an invitation to persevere in prayer. But we can also read it from another perspective, following the words that move into action and that Jesus himself repeats: act justly. The widow of the parable is an example of how to fight for justice to be done. Despite her inferiority before the judge, she does not stop in her efforts to find justice. “Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice sake,” said Jesus. The faith of this woman, her trust in God, leads her not to give up in the face of injustice, to continue her struggle. That is why Jesus will say: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find such faith on the earth?
There are many situations in our society, in our life, in which we see that the most vulnerable are the ones who suffer most of the consequences. And there are many Christians who prefer to live a spirituality without compromise, which leaves them living at peace in a comfortable society. But the well-being of only a few. When the Son of Man comes, will he find in us followers who are struggling to make present in our lives the Kingdom of love, justice and peace?
Juan Ramón Gómez Pascual, cmf
