Homily on the 29th Sunday of Year C(Luke 18:1-8)) October 17, 2010 by Msgr. Lope C. Robredillo, SThD

Observing how much evil exists in the world, its power sometimes overwhelming, philosophers of old used to ask whether this is the best of all possible worlds.  But those who experience evil do not merely look at the present and offer an explanation; rather, they look toward the future and ask whether there is any hope that we will ultimately triumph over it.  For example, after years of praying that the problems of violence and war in the Middle East, Northern Ireland, Eastern Africa, Afghanistan,  Southern Mindanao and other hot spots be solved, is there any guarantee that an era of peace will finally dawn for the poor in these places?  In a history of exploitation and oppression, will the poor ever get a fairer deal from a society in the hands of the moneyed and the powerful?  In a society in which efforts to obtain greater justice for the majority meet vigorous opposition, is there hope that the cause of the poor will ever be vindicated?

……. But at the same time, this serves to correct an impression on the way God answers our needs.  Too often, when one sees on television big prayer rallies in parks and auditoriums, one often wonders whether the participants’ understanding of these prayer rallies makes sense.   For what is often portrayed is that, one who has accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior easily obtains answers for the petitions he makes.  All he has to do is to raise his wallet and money will come in, or raise his passport and he will find employment abroad, or hold high his umbrella and graces will flow.  But if the Gospel has anything to teach us, it is that one does not easily obtain the favor he asks, that justice is not always served, that peace is not easily given.  There is a need to knock too often, to pray persistently, to wait for long, to suffer in silence, and to stand in prayer, even when praying seems meaningless and useless.  A Christian may not easily obtain the favor he asks, but he can always take comfort in the thought that he is not totally helpless before God, and is entirely dependent on him, and that God will, in his own, time, answer his prayer, even though not always in the form that he wants or expects.

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