‘Not My Will But Yours be Done’

Reflections

By David Peter csc –

Readings: Wis 18:14-16, 19: 6-9; Lk 18: 1-8

In the gospel, we see the parable of the widow and the unjust judge. The parable focuses on the need for persistence in prayer and constant effort to achieve our goals. The judge and the widow in the parable symbolize God and humans. The widow in the gospel is poor but had persistence to find justice. Let us ask ourselves, ‘are we persistent to get justice for the humanity in the world of corruption, violence, discrimination, and injustice?’ I remember a touching quote, “justice delayed is justice denied.”

In the gospel, Jesus gives us hope when we seek God in prayer and find discouragement. For God loves and he knows our needs because we are his children. We carry a question in our heart always, why does God not answer our prayers? The simple response is, God knows what to give us at the right hour. We may not know about our future, yet God knows everything. We also find a similar parable of a friend at midnight who was persistent in his seeking.

Therefore, let us not be discouraged in prayer but seek God forever. From now on, we surrender our prayers to God, we pray with a heart of openness by saying to Lord, “Thy will be done,” as Mother Mary gave her total submission to the Lord at the time of annunciation and like Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, “not my will but yours be done.”