Praying without Ceasing

HOMILY: Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Luke 18:1-8

16 October 2022

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Sino dito and naka-I-Phone? Alam niyo ba na may bagong labas na I-Phone 14? Every time there is a new I-Phone model, so many people are so eager to get their hands on it. Sa US, pinipilahan pa ang pagbukas ng Apple I-Store para una silang makabili ng phone. Minsan overnight na sila pumipila  — may baon na kumot, upuan at pagkain — minsan naka-diaper para di na kailangang umalis sa pila para mag CR. Grabe ang effort and patience! Sana ganyan din tayo ka-persistent at patient pagpinipilahan natin ang Panginoon  upang magsumamo. 

Our readings this Sunday present to us the importance of the spiritual discipline of prayer that helps deepen our dependence on God. In the passage from the Book of Exodus, so long as Moses sustained his prayers to God, the Israelites proved to be formidable in battling against Amalek. Maisip niyo ba iyon na pagbinaba ang kamay, nananalo ang kalaban? Habang nakataas, talo ang kalaban! Ito ay labanan kaya matagal-tagal ito. Nakakapagod! Nagkakulani na siguro iyon sa kilikili sa tagal ng pagkakataas ng kamay. Sige, nga itaas niyo ang inyong kamay at ibababa lang pagtapos na ang homily! (Joke lang.) 

We are told that Aaron and Hur even supported the hands of Moses to keep them up! What does this mean for us? Para sa akin, patunay ito na maaari natin tulungan ang kapwa natin sa pagdarasal kung may hinihiling ito sa Diyos! We help friends and family pray for the healing of sick loved-ones. We pray for peace in other nations like Ukraine and Russia. We pray for the well-being of others, even those who are not Catholic. That is how we are as a Church. Our prayers are stronger together. We support one another especially when the one praying seems to be losing hope. Sinasabi natin… “Ipagdarasal kita. Huwag kang mawawalan ng loob. May awa ang Diyos.” Hindi ba?

In the gospel passage this Sunday, Jesus introduces a widow to give example to his disciples of “the necessity of praying always and [of] not losing heart”.  Because of her persistence, she was successful in receiving a just judgement from the judge. It is through this widow that the disciples are taught how to be persistent, how to be patient in their prayers and not be discouraged by difficulties they might have to face. (Sa pamamagitan ng balo na ito – tinuruan ni Hesus ang mga disipulo na mag pursige sa pagdarasal at huwag panghinaan ng loob sa gitna mga mga pagsubok na kinakaharap.)

We have to take note that the unjust judge described in the gospel story is one who did not fear God nor respected people. But eventually he acceded to the persistent request for a just verdict from a powerless widow. “Because this widow keeps bothering me, I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.” Sa simpleng salita – nadaan sa kakulitan. Dahil sa paulit-ulit na pagpapa-alala na mabigyan ang balo ng hustisya, minabuti ng hukom na magbaba ng maayos na desisyon para hindi na siya balik-balikan pa ng balo at kulitin pa. This unjust judge may have thought that if the widow received what she is asking for she would finally stop pestering him and he could be left in peace. If an unscrupulous man like him could not help but give in to the persistent request of the widow, how much more would our God?  God is, to us, such a good, just and loving Father who wants to see us happy and want only what is best for His children.  Our goal in praying ceaselessly is not to change the mind of God but rather learning to surrender ourselves to the will of God. And surely, He desires only what is good for us.

In the Second Reading, St. Paul continues to instruct Timothy in the conduct of his ministry. He reminds him of the importance of what he had known from infancy. “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed…”  In saying this, St. Paul is pointing out the need to be consistent in what we have been taught about the faith, even as children. Paano ba natin unang naintindihan ang ating pananampalataya? Sa Pilipinas, ituturo ang mga imahe sa bahay o simbahan “look at Papa Jesus”. Hehehe. Mali yun ha? Jesus is our BROTHER. Tapos ituturo ang sign of the cross. Di ba? Most of us have been taught basic prayers when we were children. Pag tumanda na tayo, unti-unti, naghahanap tayo ng mas malalim na paraan upang makausap ang Diyos — meditation, Rosary, novena, retreat, etc. As we become more consistent in the practice of prayer, we gradually have found more effective ways in turning to God in our prayers, not limiting ourselves to the words and the texts we recite. Ang iba, mas malalim ang experience of prayer by just sitting in silence in front of the altar! 

But it all starts from somewhere and from someone to whom we should be grateful.  St. Paul brings out a very important aspect in the work of evangelisation, he was encouraging the spreading of faith within the family circle. Ideally, faith is transmitted from parents to one’s children. Unfortunately, a lot of parents these days have expressed their frustration and sorrow because their children are no longer practicing their faith. May nagbiro na ang bata paglumaki na, lahat ng turo at bigay ng magulang, tinatanggihan puwera ang mana. May katotohanan din diyan. Nevertheless, Catholic parents have the responsibility to instruct their children on the faith! Sino dito ang magulang? You have the job of teaching your kids what it is to be Catholic. You should be the one to initiate prayer in the home. Teach them that the family that prays together stays together (Fr Patrick Peyton). But it is not only in words that you can instruct your children but more importantly by example! How do we treat our family members and relatives? How do we treat others — especially the poor, the marginalized and the needy? Your children see and learn from you!

Ang sabi sa atin sa Bibliya, alam na ng Diyos ang ating panga-ngailangan bago pa man natin ito hilingin. At hinding-hindi Niya kakalimutan o tatalikuran ang mga kahilingan na makabubuti sa atin. Pwede natin Siyang lapitan at lambingin. Pwede natin siyang pakiusapan. Pwede tayong maging bukas at totoo sa ating mga hiling. Hindi Niya kailangan ng pambobola o pagpipilit dahil alam Niya ang laman ng ating mga puso. We are to have a confident prayer… a prayer from the heart.  It is true, without reservations, daring and yes, unabashed as one looks to God as a loving parent. This persistence in prayer is an expression of a deep trust in our heavenly Father’s goodness and love for all of us, His children. What parent could turn a deaf ear to cries for help of his/her own child? Ang kailangan lang ay ating pagpupursige, pasensya at tiwala na makukuha natin ang nararapat sa tamang panahon.  At siguradong sasagutin Niya ang ating mga kahilingan sa paraan na pinaka-makabubuti sa atin.

Therefore, let us be confident and most trusting that God our Father who loves and cares for us and knows what is best for us, hears our prayers. He will always answer — perhaps, not right away, or in the way we want Him to, but God will respond to our pleas in His own perfect time and in the best way possible for us!

Magdasal. Maghintay. Magtiwala. At siguradong tutugon ang Diyos sa tamang panahon.