Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, “There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.’”
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.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

This Gospel passage reveals God’s unshakable faithfulness towards all His children. Jesus teaches us that if even an unjust judge can listen to a persistent woman, how much more will our heavenly Father hear those who cry out to Him day and night!

The widow represents the soul that refuses to give up in the face of God’s silence. Had she given up after the first rejection, she would never have received justice. Her human perseverance becomes for us a symbol of the spiritual perseverance God expects from His children — a heart that keeps trusting, keeps asking, keeps loving.

And so He invites us to pray always without losing heart. He doesn’t tell us to pray a lot, but to pray always — to live in His presence, to keep our hearts united to His, and to abandon ourselves to Him.

As husbands and wives, He invites us to persevere and to live constantly in marital prayer — loving with perseverance, forgiving, welcoming, and giving of ourselves — allowing the love of God to act within us.

Brought down to married life:

Rachel: Ian, today during Mass, when I heard the words “Will He find this faith on earth?” I asked myself… what does that faith look like in us? Between work, the children, and being so tired all the time…

Ian: Rachel, maybe it looks exactly like this — when we try not to respond harshly to a bad mood, when we make a small gesture of affection even though we’re exhausted, when we embrace the cross together with love… that too is faith.

Rachel: Yes, but sometimes I feel like we don’t pray enough. I miss those long moments of prayer we had before the children were born.

Ian: I miss them too. But I think Jesus is teaching us to pray within our daily lives. Every time I love, serve, or forgive you, I’m united to His Heart — that’s our prayer.

Rachel: So… living in the Heart of Jesus means keeping our souls alight in the middle of ordinary life.

Ian: Exactly, Rachel!

Rachel: Then when Jesus returns, maybe He’ll find us washing dishes or changing nappies — but if we’re doing it united with Him, He will find that faith. What joy!

Mother,

You who pondered everything in your heart, help us to live in prayer.
Blessed and praised forever be the Lord!