THE POWER OF PERSEVERING PRAYER

READINGS: TWENTY NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

On this 29^th Sunday in Ordinary times, year C, the gospel reading (Luke 18:1-8) tells of the parable Jesus used to teach the Power of Persevering Prayer. In the parable, a widow was able to win justice from an unjust judge, who neither feared God nor respected any man, by share persistence. The judge granted her request—not out of compassion, but to stop her relentless appeals. The widow’s repeated pleas reflect a faith that refuses to give up but presses forward even when answers seem delayed. In chapter 10 of the book of Daniel, we read about how Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 days, and although God granted him the grace he was praying for, on the first day, it didn’t get to him because the devil attacked the angel that was sent to deliver the grace and held it up for 21 days. It was Daniel’s persistent prayer for those 21 days that caused Archangel Michael to be sent to battle the devil and deliver the angel from the forces of evil. 

My friends, success in life requires a consistent, persistent, and unyielding spirit because no matter what we are engaged with, challenges are bound to show up, and heavenly blessings may not always come without interruptions. Scripture tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness in the heavenly places. We live in a sin-stricken world where the devil is very active and continues to battle God’s graces from getting to us. Persistent prayer is what breaks through the darkness of the spirit-realm so that divine graces can manifest into our lives. 

Prayer is not a one-time act—it’s a rhythm of trust, a spiritual posture of endurance. Persistence in prayer shows commitment to what we are praying for and our unwavering trust in the faithfulness of God. It is a true sign of our belief that God can construct blessings into our lives. It is a way of honoring God, letting Him know that we will continue to seek our fulfillment and completion in His promises. If the answer to our initial prayer is delayed and we give up, then, we are telling God that He has failed and that we would rather handle the situation ourselves. 

So, let us find different avenues to be persistent in prayer—Eucharistic adorations and devotions, and luckily, we have it every first Friday and first Sunday of the month (7:00 pm); Marian devotion with Eucharistic exposition every Wednesday (7:30 pm), Charismatic Prayer Meeting, every Wednesday (6:00 pm). Prayer is not an obligation. It is an opportunity. 

May we be like the widow—undaunted, faithful, and persistent in prayer, trusting that our cries are heard, and that graces and mercy will come.