29th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Pray Always!

Reflection on the Readings for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) – October 19, 2025

First Reading: Exodus 17:8-13  

In the desert wilderness, where survival hangs by a thread, the Israelites face not just thirst or hunger, but outright war. Amalek's forces descend upon them, a stark reminder that faith's journey is never without opposition. Moses, ever the intercessor, ascends the hill with arms outstretched, staff in hand—the same staff that parted seas and struck rocks for water. As long as his arms remain raised, Joshua prevails below; when they falter, the tide turns against Israel. Hur and Aaron step in, propping up Moses' weary limbs until victory is secured. This scene is no mere military anecdote; it's a profound image of communal prayer as the unseen force that sustains the battle. Our own struggles—personal, communal, global—demand such solidarity. Who props up our arms when fatigue sets in? In a world quick to drop its guard, this reading calls us to recognize that God's power flows through our persistent, supported lifting of hands in prayer.

 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8  

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains: whence shall come my help?" These ancient words echo Moses' ascent, transforming a moment of desperation into a hymn of trust. The psalmist knows the hills can harbor danger—bandits, wild beasts—but looks beyond to the Creator who "neither slumbers nor sleeps." Our help isn't in self-reliance or fleeting alliances, but in the vigilant God who shades us from the sun's scorching heat and the moon's disorienting chill. In the quiet of night or the blaze of noon, divine watchfulness guards our going out and coming in. This psalm invites us to pause amid our battles: Where do we fix our gaze? Not on the threats looming like mountains, but on the One who authors our preservation. It's a gentle assurance that even when our arms tire, God's do not.

 Second Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2  

Paul's parting charge to Timothy is both tender and urgent, like a mentor passing the torch in shadowed times. "Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed," he urges, grounding Timothy in the sacred Scriptures that "are useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness." These words aren't abstract; they're the arsenal for the soul's endurance, equipping us "to be competent, equipped for every good work." Then comes the solemn commission: Proclaim the word, be persistent—whether convenient or not—reprove, rebuke, exhort with patience. In an age of fleeting distractions and diluted truths, Paul's voice cuts through: Fidelity to God's word isn't optional; it's the fuel for perseverance. Timothy, young and perhaps daunted, receives this as empowerment, not burden. We, too, are called to wield Scripture not as a weapon, but as a lifeline—persistent in sharing it, even when the world tires of hearing.

 Gospel: Luke 18:1-8  

Jesus wastes no time with preamble: "He told them a parable on the necessity of praying always without becoming weary." The unjust judge, indifferent to God or humanity, couldn't care less about the widow's pleas—until her relentless badgering wears him down. "Though I do not fear God... yet because this widow bothers me, I will deliver a just decision for her." If even a callous magistrate yields to persistence, how much more will our loving Father respond? Yet Jesus' closing question pierces: "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" It's a sobering pivot from triumph to trial. The widow models bold, unyielding faith—not polite whispers, but cries that demand justice. In our fractured world—plagued by injustice, division, and despair—this parable isn't about nagging God, but about refusing to let go. What if our prayers faltered like Moses' arms? Jesus challenges us to endure, trusting that the God who sees the sparrow hears the widow's wail.

 A Unified Call to Persistent Faith  

These readings weave a tapestry of tenacity: Moses' upheld arms, the psalmist's lifted eyes, Timothy's steadfast proclamation, the widow's unceasing pleas. At their heart lies persistence—not as drudgery, but as defiant trust in a God who invites our involvement. In Year C's Ordinary Time, we might feel the ordinariness of our battles: the grind of daily duties, the weight of unanswered prayers, the temptation to lower our arms. Yet here, Scripture reminds us that victory isn't solitary; it's communal, scriptural, and supremely prayerful. The early Church faced emperors and exile with this very grit—arms held high by one another, eyes fixed on the mountains of promise, words of truth proclaimed amid peril. Today, as conflicts rage and uncertainties mount, we are heirs to that legacy. Will we persist? Let us commit to lifting each other, immersing in the Word, and crying out without ceasing. For in that holy stubbornness, we glimpse the faith the Son of Man longs to find—a faith that outlasts judges, deserts, and doubts, ushering in God's reign of justice and peace. May our prayers today echo into eternity, arms raised, hearts unweary. Amen.