Breaking Open the Word
By James Cavanagh
Oct. 17: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Scripture readings:
- Exodus 17:8-13
- Psalm 121:1-8
- 2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:2
- Luke 18:1-8
Overview:
The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” teaches that prayer is a battle. There are many “enemies” of prayer: dryness, distraction and countless worries. This week’s first reading describes a great battle between Israel and the Amelekites. It was chosen to complement the Gospel for its allegorical and typological meaning. Moses “typifies” Christ who stretched out his arms on the cross for the salvation of all.
After their escape from Egypt across the Red Sea the Israelites headed south to Mount Sinai, where Moses and the people were to meet God and receive the commandments. At a place called Rephidim, however, they were met with fierce resistance by a tribe of that region. The connection with the Gospel is signified by the battle and Moses’ upraised hands: a typical posture of prayer.
The Amelekites represent the “enemies” that stand between us and God. As long as Moses’ hands were raised, the battle went to the Israelites, but when he lowered them, the Amelekites prevailed.
St. Paul wrote two letters to Timothy. The main purpose of the second letter is to encourage him to be persistent in preaching the Gospel, “whether it is convenient or inconvenient.” Paul urges him to rely on Scripture, which is “useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness.”
Finally, in this week’s Gospel Jesus uses a parable to illustrate the importance of persistence in prayer. If a “dishonest judge” will give a poor widow what she wants because of her persistence, then how much more will our heavenly Father answer those who beseech him with all their heart.
Key Verse:
“As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight, but when he let his hands rest, Amalek had the better of the fight.” (Ex 17:11).
“Catechism of the Catholic Church”:
“Prayer is both a gift of grace and a determined response on our part. It always presupposes effort. The great figures of prayer of the Old Covenant before Christ, as well as the Mother of God, the saints, and he himself, all teach us this: prayer is a battle. Against whom? Against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn man away from prayer, away from union with God” (No. 2725).
Pope Benedict XVI:
“The oldest gesture of prayer in Christendom is prayer with arms extended, the orans posture. Arms extended have been compared to wings: man seeks the heights; he wants to be, as it were, carried upward by God on the wings of prayer. But for the Christian, arms extended also have a Christological meaning: they remind us of the extended arms of Christ on the cross. The crucified Lord has given this primal human gesture of prayer a new depth” (“Spirit of the Liturgy”).
Life application:
Besides the many obstacles to prayer mentioned above, the main ones are “the world, the flesh and the devil.” The first step in praying well is to admit that it’s not easy and to ask the Lord for help. Prayer is a battle, but when it’s joined to Christ our great “high priest” who conquered sin and death, we gain the strength of perseverance that leads to victory.
James Cavanagh is director of Evangelization and Catechesis for Metro-Area Parishes of the Denver Archdiocese. For information on subscribing to "Breaking Open the Word, click here. For archives click here.
