32nd Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 14th November 2020 — Gospel: Lk 18,1-8
Vulnerables’ as Chosen Ones
Luke mentions a number of widows in the ministry of Jesus, the vulnerable in the society in whom he takes a particular interest. Jesus recognizes the poor widow (21,3) who has given more than wealthier patrons of the temple and he condemns the scribes who “devour widows’ houses” (20,47). Besides their vulnerability, the widows also appear as prophetic, active and faithful. Certainly the widow who gave her last coins is a model of faithful generosity. The first widow in the Gospel is Anna (2,37), a prophetess, who spreads the good news of Jesus’ birth. In his inaugural sermon, Jesus mentions the widow of Zarephath (4,25-26), who feeds Elijah in famine and whose son is returned to life by the prophet, which is enacted by Jesus in raising the only son of the widow of Nain (7,12). All these appear only in Luke’s Gospel, including the widow of the current parable, who is persistent, active, and forceful to get the justice she demands from an utterly unjust judge, and this widow is included among the chosen ones of God.
The parable of the widow’s persistence is introduced as a parable about prayer and not losing heart, then moves into a story about justice, and ends with a question about faith. While the parable is outwardly framed by references to prayer and faith, the emphasis in verses 3-8 is on justice and how it figures in the confrontation between the vulnerable justice-seeker and the unjust power-holder. The powerful and just God takes the place of the unjust judge in the end, granting justice to his vulnerable, the chosen ones who cry to him day and night. While Jesus compares God to the judge with this transition, the real point of comparison is one of contrast. God is in fact not like this reluctantly responsive judge. God need not be pestered to listen to our pleas, for He responds to our appeals. And when does God respond, He does so willingly. In fact, God is more like the widow in her own relentless commitment to justice. He has a preference to respond to the cry of the chosen one.
