Have you ever been in a courtroom? Years ago, I went with a friend to our courthouse in Eufaula, and I remember how organized, courteous, and respectful everyone was, especially towards the judge. So I can’t help but laugh when I picture the widow in Jesus’ parable showing up before the judge day after day, calling him out and demanding justice, and him finally giving her what she wants just to get her out of his hair (Luke 18:1-8).
The original Greek translation literally says the judge grants her justice “so that she might not finally come and slap me in the face,” meaning, “so she doesn’t make me look bad.” He already looked bad (!), admitting he had no respect for anyone—God or man. The law specifically required care for widows, orphans, and strangers, and judges were to ensure compassion and fairness. The widow’s persistence was her only leverage, and it finally worked.
My image isn’t so funny when we realize how many people today are praying, begging, fighting, and waiting for justice. Jesus tells us to “pray always and not lose heart.” We often think this means to keep asking God until he answers, because God will always take care of us.
There seems to be a catch, though. God’s love and justice are sure, but living with injustice and praying and waiting for restoration also seem to be part of God’s plan of salvation. How does our experience of delayed justice (or delayed health, wholeness, peace, etc.) reconcile with Jesus saying God will “quickly grant justice” to those who cry to him? Clearly, God’s “quickly” isn’t the same as ours! It’s easy to lose heart when God seems unmoved.
We must remember that with God, all time is “now.” We humans measure time with clocks and calendars – past, present, and future and we don’t always see justice happening yet. But for God, justice and goodness are already prevailing, now. Spiritually, we live with God in his “eternal now,” sharing in his justice and goodness even as our physical selves live in earthly time where justice has yet to happen.
We must pray always and not lose heart in this chaotic world while we wait for Jesus’ return. Praying is keeping communication open with God – with conversation, praise, tears, pleading, silence, all of that – investing ourselves in a trusting, loving relationship that brings peace, strength, and hope. Not losing heart is trusting that God’s compassion and justice win in the end. It also means remembering we ourselves are agents of God’s justice and compassion. Each of us can bring some measure of healing and justice into the world. Imagine this: God as the persistent widow, coming to US again and again, demanding that we bring justice, healing, and reconciliation where we can, and not taking “no” for an answer!
Pray that we would have the courage to pray always and not lose heart—to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.
Trinity Episcopal Church welcomes you each Sunday at 10 a.m., where you will find a warm congregation, uplifting liturgy, and the good news of God’s love shared in word and sacrament. Come be part of a community that seeks to stand tall together in faith and love.
