Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis
with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk
Twenty-Ninth Sunday of the Year, C & World Mission Sunday – October
20, 2019.
Readings: Ex 17:8-13; Responsorial Psalm Ps 121:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8;
2 Tm
3:14-4:2 & Gospel Luke 18:1-8.
Theme: Pray Until Something Happens (PUSH)
Introduction
Dearly beloved in
Christ, today being October 20, 2019, the Church celebrates the 94th
edition of World Mission Sunday (WMS). The Holy Father Pope Francis has called
for an Extraordinary Missionary Month to be celebrated at all levels. Bearing
in mind this year’s theme: “Baptised and Sent: The Church of Christ on Mission
in the World,” we are called to assess “My Mission” and “Our Mission” as
Christians. Although our reflection is not based on the readings for WMS, we
will nonetheless demonstrate how the readings of the day relate to this
celebration. Meantime, our readings for this Sunday challenge us on the need for
perseverance and synergy as people of God on mission. This reflection is weaved
around Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s popular slogan: “Pray Until Something Happens”
(PUSH).
Background and Summary of the Readings
The first reading (Ex
17:8-13) reveals how the hand of Moses became weary when the people of Israel
were fighting the Amalekites. It narrates how Aaron and Hur held Moses' hands
up to ensure victory. We are told that as long as Aaron and Hur held Moses' hands
up, God granted victory to his people. The reading points to perseverance as a
recipe for petitioning heaven for our needs and the needs of the world.
In the second
reading, (2 Tm 3:14-4:2) St. Paul reminds Timothy and indeed all Christians to
keep to the truth they have been taught. He reveals that the Holy Scriptures
contains the truth of the faith and wisdom of salvation noting that all
scripture is inspired and profitable for refuting error, guiding people’s lives,
teaching them to be holy. He encourages preaches of the gospel to be faithful
stewards of God who are called to preach God’s word to refute falsehood,
correct error, call to obedience even as they are patient in teaching.
The gospel (Luke
18:1-8) reading narrates the parable of the ruthless judge and the widow. Jesus
reveals how the widow kept going to this Judge who neither feared God nor man.
But since she kept pestering him, he had no option than to grant her desires.
In like manner, he insisted that God would see justice done to those who call
on him day and night. And he ask, when God comes, will he find any faith on
earth?
Pastoral Lessons
1. Give Shared-Responsibility a Chance: Aaron and Hur can be
described as members of the laity who are called to be collaborators in the
evangelising mission of the Church – therefore, as co-heirs of God's
kingdom, the lay faithful are urged to hold the hand of Moses by being partners
in progress through shared-responsibility.
2. Respect Religious Leaders: As a people, we are
urged to see the Moses motif in our Church leaders and pray for them so as to
be the ministers of God they are called to be.
3. Practise Perseverance: Our first reading prepares us
for the message of the gospel wherein the parable of the wicked Judge and the
distressed widow point to perseverance in prayer as a recipe for all Christians
who are called to be persistent in seeking, asking and knocking.
4. Be Faithful Stewards: In the second reading (2 Tm
3:14-4:2), we are also called to be faithful stewards of God as we offer our
prayerful sentiments to him.
5. God Can Surprise Us: While we cannot juxtapose the
Judge's readiness to help the widow with God’s divine assistance, suffice it to
say that our God is able to do infinitely much more than we can ask or imagine.
6. Fight Distractions: As a people of faith, we must resolve to fight
the factors which distract us
in prayer such as physical, mental or psychological, material and
syncretic distractions.
