REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus does not compare God with the judge who is identified to be dishonest. The judge does not have any regard for God and men. He does not really care about dispensing justice to the people since he is concerned only about his own profit. God is totally different from this judge. We do not have to threaten God with our pleas. At times he may seem to be silent vis-a-vis our requests, but he actually cares for our physical and spiritual well-being. He immediately says “yes” to our prayers if the blessing could truly help us. At other times, he teaches us to wait before giving us what we have requested for. He provides us with time and the occasion to examine our motivation and to purify our desires. God’s answer can also come in a negative response, especially if he wants to protect us from harm and evil. Can we trust God’s infinite wisdom, and can we respect his decision over our life? Gospel • Luke 18:1-8 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? Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2022,” St. Pauls, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.