Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 147


The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. 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?I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.



Recently we celebrated the Feast of the Archangels Gabriel, Michael and Raphael; a few days later we celebrated the Guardian Angels. It occurred to me that many bright people have worked industriously over the past several hundred years to persuade us that there are no angels in the universe. And, they say, there is no God either.
No sooner have they persuaded themselves of these two "scientific facts(!)" than they want to persuade us there has to be intelligent life in some distant place of the vast universe.
That's what we've been saying all along! God's universe is chock full of intelligent angels and wise saints and Mary, the Queen of Wisdom, and the All-Wise and All-Knowing Lord of Heaven and Earth. The starriest night can hardly represent their number or the beauty, variety and wonder of Dominions, Cherubim, Seraphim, Angels, Principalities, Thrones, Archangels, Virtues, and Powers.
While they're investing millions in their SETI project -- trying to detect a communication from a distant intelligence, in the unlikely event that there might be Somebody Out There, who for some inexplicable reason might not want to exploit us as we have ruthlessly exploited one another -- we commune with our Good Lord who hears our prayers and cares intensely about us.
And, while the SETIs wait and wait, knowing full well that if there is someone out there the odds of our contacting them or their contacting us are more astronomical than the universe, our patron saints and guardian angels speak to us through visions, auditions, and brilliant insights -- often!
But those fascinating incidents are not nearly as important as our daily sacramental communion with the Lord and the Church, which is comprised of saints long dead, living presently, and yet to be born. In that fellowship we find both reassurance and guidance. Nor do we fear a hostile invasion of these astral beings, as the SETI faithful fear a Wellsian War of the Worlds.
Today's first and third readings encourage us to present ourselves with our needs, hopes, and dreams in the Presence of God, confident of a favorable hearing. Jesus uses an unforgettable parable about a wicked judge and a widow to make his point. The scriptures often remind us that there's nothing new under the sun​, and we're very familiar with stories of crooked judges, lawyers, police, and politicians. However, this parable has an ironic twist as a bad man does good when a widow relentlessly demands his attention and her satisfaction. (We're assured her cause is "just" only by her saying it is.) Now, lawyers are notoriously indifferent to matters of justice and injustice; their only concern is the game of law and how it's played. So when the wicked judge does the right thing we know it's nothing less than a miracle.
Jesus' point: expect a miracle as you persist in prayer.
Remember that we're praying in the Name of Jesus, who is the Beloved Son and Icon of the Father. We are impelled to prayer by the Holy Spirit, who is also the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. Our impulse is not greed, avarice, envy, or fear but divine generosity. We have been sent and commissioned to pray for ourselves, our loved ones, our neighbors and enemies. Ever since Abraham pleaded for mercy for the cities of the plain, we have represented Earthlings to God and God to Earthlings. If they wallow in the Slough of Despond and cannot stand upright we stand with Jesus in the Heavenly Temple​ pleading for them.
Where credulous SETI enthusiasts think human life can be more efficient (cheaper) if it is digitized, depersonalized and robotic, we look for a human touch, face and eyes. At the heart of our reality is the Lord whom Saint Francis called,

the fullness of good, all good, every good, the true and supreme good, Who alone is good, merciful, gentle, delightful, and sweet, Who alone is holy, just, true, holy, and upright, Who alone is kind, innocent, clean, from Whom, through Whom and in Whom is all pardon, all grace, all glory of all penitents and just ones, of all the blessed rejoicing together in heaven.

Even if we don't get what we think we need or should have, we will have honored the Lord and there can be no harm in that.