Whenever the time grows short, it can be tempting to give up the mission. Especially if it seems like there is a lack of results. That’s where we find ourselves on the issue of prayer very often, I think. We may have prayed for a loved one or a situation until our knees are raw and our throats are parched. We may have prayed fervently, shedding tears. And now, maybe, with the time growing short, those tears may be tears of frustration, or anger, or abandonment.
But God is decidedly not an unjust judge, right? We know he loves us and cares for us. That’s why I think it can be so frustrating to have prayed and prayed and prayed, and never see anything happening. We get to this point in our spiritual lives all the time.
The Gospel today is calling us to be persistent. We know that God loves us and we know that he will act for our good. We probably don’t know what the answer to our prayer will look like, but rest assured, if we pray persistently and with openness to God’s will, we will know the answer when we see it. It can be hard to be that trusting and open when the life of someone we love is at stake. Whether it’s disease or addiction or a job situation or family problems or any one of thousands of afflictions, we just can’t bear to see our loved ones go through it. Especially when we’ve been praying.
But if our prayer means anything, then it’s got to be persistent. We have to trust that God will render a decision that is just and right. It may take time to see that happen, but we have to see it through in prayer.
The time is growing short. So when Christ returns, will he find faith on earth? May his return find us fervently and persistently in prayer.