10/19/2025 (Sunday) Today’s Gospel reading: Luke 18:1-8

1 Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
2 He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
3 And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’
4 For a long time, the judge was unwilling, but eventually, he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
5 because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’”
6 The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
7 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?
8 I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

10/19/2025 (Sunday) Today’s Gospel reflection / sermon / homily: Luke 18:1-8

Prayer is the lifeline that connects the heart of humanity to the heart of God. It is not simply a ritual or a set of words we say. It is an act of faith that declares, “I believe that God listens, cares, and will act in His time.” The parable of the persistent widow beautifully captures this truth. It reminds us that faith is not shown only in the intensity of our prayers, but in their consistency. The woman kept pleading before the judge, even when the odds were against her. She was not powerful, influential, or wealthy, but she had persistence, the one thing that moved even an unjust judge. Her unwavering determination mirrors the kind of faith that God desires from us: a faith that does not give up even when heaven seems silent.

There are moments when prayer feels like knocking on a door that never opens. We may pray for healing, reconciliation, or provision and yet face delay after delay. It is easy to lose heart and wonder if God even hears us. But the lesson of this story is clear: delay is not denial. God’s timing is perfect, and every waiting season is an invitation to trust Him more deeply. Persistence in prayer refines our faith, teaching us that prayer is not about changing God’s mind but it is about transforming our hearts. As we keep praying, our motives are purified, our patience is strengthened, and our dependence on God grows. The widow’s perseverance reminds us that faith is not proven by how quickly we receive answers, but by how faithfully we continue to pray even without seeing them.

In the modern world, where everything moves fast and instant results are expected, prayer can feel slow. We live in a culture of “click and get,” but God works in a rhythm of “ask, seek, and wait.” Many people give up on prayer because they expect immediate answers. Yet faith matures in the soil of waiting. God may not always answer in the way we desire, but He always responds in the way that is best for us. Every prayer uttered in faith becomes a seed planted in God’s timing, and no sincere prayer ever goes unheard. The waiting period is not wasted. It is the sacred time where God molds our character and aligns our hearts with His will.

Persistent prayer also expresses our relationship with God, not our ability to persuade Him. We do not pray to convince God to care; we pray because we already know He cares. Each time we come to Him, we reaffirm our trust that His justice, love, and mercy are greater than our understanding. Just as the widow’s persistence moved the unjust judge to act, how much more will a loving God respond to the cries of His children? Prayer is not about getting God’s attention. It is about staying in His presence long enough for His peace to fill us and His power to sustain us.

When Jesus asked if He would find faith on earth when He returns, He was speaking about this kind of enduring faith that keeps praying even when the answer seems delayed. True faith does not quit. It prays, believes, and waits with hope. It is the faith that says, “I will not stop knocking until God opens the right door.” Such faith honors God, and God always honors such faith.

In every season of life, may we be like the persistent widow, faithful, patient, and confident in the goodness of God. When we pray with perseverance, we are declaring that we trust His heart even when we do not understand His timing. And in the end, we will discover that those who never give up in prayer never leave empty-handed, for their reward is not only the answer but also a deeper, unshakable faith in the One who listens.

Go here to read further Gospel reflection.