WHAT IS THE POINT OF PERSEVERANT PRAYER?

Reflections on the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Exodus 17:8-13, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2, Luke 18:1-8

“Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?” There appears to be a logical conflict between two concepts presented in the Gospel: God answers prayers without delay, yet we are also instructed to persevere in our prayers and “pray always without becoming weary”. This raises a question: if God is not slow to answer us, why is perseverance necessary? Does the call to pray without ceasing suggest that God takes His time to listen and act? To resolve this tension, we must re-evaluate our understanding of prayer itself.

Prayer is not about informing God of our needs, for “Your Father knows what you need even before you ask” (Matthew 6:32). Neither is it about proposing an alternative plan that we believe is better for our lives. The purpose of prayer is not to change God’s will for us. Instead, prayer is meant to change our own hearts, and this transformation is what requires time and perseverance. As the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard wrote, “Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays”.

We need to persevere in prayer, not because God is unwilling to listen or intervene, but because we are the ones who need time to change. Pope Benedict XVI explained that “God cannot change things without our conversion, and our true conversion begins with the ‘cry’ of the soul imploring forgiveness and salvation”. Christian prayer is a powerful expression of hope and faith in a loving God who does not abandon us. God perseveres alongside us in our prayers, patiently waiting for prayer to accomplish its true purpose: our conversion, surrender, and willingness to align our lives with His divine plan. As Peter advises, we should “Look on our Lord’s patience as the opportunity he is giving you to be saved” (2 Peter 3:15).

The liturgy presents two compelling examples of perseverant prayer: a persistent widow and Moses during battle. The widow, a symbol of vulnerability, confronts a corrupt judge who lacks both fear of God and respect for humanity. Despite the immense odds, she refuses to give up in the face of injustice and corruption. Similarly, Moses faces an unprovoked attack from the Amalekites. His hands remain raised in prayer throughout the conflict. Both figures demonstrate that persevering in prayer prevents us from succumbing to despair, hopelessness, or frustration. Their unwavering faith serves as a model for us, showing that keeping our hands outstretched in prayer, resisting the urge to give up, is essential for our spiritual resilience and for supporting each other.

There is a subtle but significant detail in the Gospel’s account of the judge and the widow. The judge, in a moment of self-reflection, says he will deliver a just decision for her, “lest she finally come and strike me” (a literal translation suggests she might give him a black eye). It is highly unlikely that a poor and lonely widow could resort to violence against a powerful man. This detail implies that the power of her faith-inspired perseverance is greater than the power of violence. Her unwavering perseverance compelled the unjust judge to act rightly, demonstrating that faith can triumph over societal power structures and injustice. This story highlights how persistent, faith-filled prayer can bring about conversion in others, even those who seem unchangeable.

Jesus also adds a profound question: “However, will the Son of man, when He comes, find faith on earth?”. This question can make us tremble, as His return draws closer and we see the many dangers threatening our faith. Should we give up? Jesus’ warning serves the opposite purpose. The mandate to resist the temptation to give up remains as urgent as ever. The Church's mission is not yet complete, and we need to persevere with our hands outstretched in faithful prayer, resisting the forces that compel us to throw our hands down, to silence us. We must continue to persevere, with our hands outstretched in faithful prayer, resisting the forces that would compel us to give up and be silenced. Paul echoes this call in the second reading, “proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching”.

We are called to support one another in prayer, just as Aaron and Hur supported Moses’ hands during the battle, and also through tangible social engagement, as Joshua did on the battlefield. And so, we pray not to change God’s mind, but to change our own. With hands uplifted, we stand in a hope that shines through the night, a testament to faith’s enduring light.