Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

Our help is in the name of the Lord who made Heaven and Earth. Ps. 121

How often we are brought back to a familiar truth in a way that astounds us and amazes us! We are called to persevere in prayer. I love the story of an athlete who had worked for years to win in his sport. He had always made it to the championships, and could never seem to win the final prize. Near the end of his career, he fought a bitter rivalry against a boastful competitor. His rival won, and everyone said his career was over. Through tears and pain, he humbly admitted defeat. He said he would persevere in his sport and not give up. He would go on to win the championship less than a year later, and he went on to set multiple records in his sport. He persevered when the whole World thought he should quit. Persevering in prayer is just like this. We need to persevere in this most holy venture in order to reach the summit of our lives, which is life in Jesus Christ.

In the first reading, Moses held his staff over the people as they went to battle. He began to lose strength, and when he lowered his staff, Amalek’s forces began to win. The Israelites had the “better of the fight” when Moses could hold up the staff. They won in the end because of their perseverance. In the Second Letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to keep proclaiming the Word, the holy Word of God, in all circumstances, whether it was “convenient or inconvenient.”

When we pray, we are not bribing God. We cannot buy God off or influence him by saying or doing so many pious acts or devotions. We pray to know God and to change ourselves. By keeping a strong sense of prayer, we can become closer and closer to Christ in our lives. The life of prayer is not so much a part of duty or monotony as it is a life source that brings us closer to Christ.

Let us keep praying and keep vigil, so that “when the Son of Man comes, he will find faith on Earth.” Amen

Reflection by Br. Matthew Marie, OSB