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Contents: Volume 2 29th SUNDAY (C) October 19, 2025
1. -- Lanie LeBlanc OP -2. -- Dennis Keller OP - 3. --
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Blessings, Dr. Lanie LeBlanc OP Southern Dominican Laity
****************************************************** 29th SUNDAY (C) October 19, 2025
The reading from Exodus this Sunday presents with a clear example of the power of prayer. This reading layers on the basic message of how those who pray must be persistent. The second reading in Paul’s second letter to Timothy speaks of persistence in proclaiming the Word, the Good News whether it’s convenient or inconvenient but includes encouragement to be patient. That theme is also in both the Exodus reading and in the Gospel. Patience, that virtue my wife insisted was seldom found in a woman and never in a man. The reading in Exodus has an overview that requires patience for change of hearts, even if that patience takes a whole generation to be fulfilled. The gospel ends this Sunday with Jesus wondering if humanity has the patience to keep faith in God and his Messenger till the second coming.
Looking before this selection from Exodus, we hear about the complaining of the Hebrew tribes. They have yet to understand their liberation from Egypt. Their need for food in a desert where they believe they will die of starvation. Or perhaps earlier they would die from thirst. In those two complaints, God did provide food and drink. Food was manna that came to them each evening except for the Sabbath. When they complained about lack of meat to match the food available in Egypt, God provided meat with flocks of quail that flew into their camp. When they ran out of water God provided water from a rock that stayed with them on their generation long travel through the desert. Would we, after such interventions not have faith that God had their back?
Imagine the fear in the camp when Amalek, leader of the Amalekites drew up battle lines against their encampment. Surely, rumors and spies’ reports of the wealth the Hebrews carried off from Egypt was part of his motivation. These Hebrews were tradesmen, tenders of herds and flocks, and growers of fruits and vegetables. What kind of match would they be for battle trained soldiers? Moses carried faith in God and established a strategy. God had provided before, surely God would not abandon his people. Moses instructed Joshua to select certain men from the camp to confront Amalek. He went up a hill with his brother Aaron and Hur a tribal leader. As long as Moses lifted his arms in supplication to God, Joshua’s men held sway. But as he tired and dropped his supplicating arms, Amalek gained the upper hand. Aaron and Hur supported him. Here again is that necessity for faith and persistence in that faith. Added to that faith is the prayer of the community made up in this case of Aaron and Hur.
The gospel parable is more of the same. The judge couldn’t care less about the plight of the widow. She was persistent. He finally gave way and awarded that for which she was entitled. It was not because he had a sudden attack in his heart about justice. He was afraid the widow would sock him in the eye so he gave in.
This battle with Amalek was the third major threat to the Hebrews. Their faith in God fell prey to the challenges. They forgot the intervention of God who liberated them through the miracle of ten devastating plagues on their slave masters. Whenever a problem came up, they wanted to go back to Egypt. As a result they spent a whole generation, forty years, wandering. The children of those original migrants were those entering the land promised. These children lacked the experience of the fleshpots and routines of life as slaves. They would remember God’s interventions in the desert wanderings as children and in the stories of their elders. In a way this is how we are. When we repent of some habit or idolatry, there is a tendency to hang on to the routine of that. It takes patience to be truly converted to a new way of living.
Whatever happened to Amalek and the Amalekites? Their story continues. In one major event, King Saul is told by the prophet to wipe out that tribe of marauders. In a later story during the Babylon captivity, we have the story of Esther who saves her people. Her uncle was hated by one Haman. He convinced the king to order the extermination of all Jews in the empire. We know it was Haman who was hung on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai, Esther’s uncle. Haman was an Amalekite.
The underlying theme of these readings is prayer. Prayer connects us with our community, with our families, and certainly with our Creator and Savior, Jesus. In prayer we call upon the Spirit to inspire us, to enlighten us, and to give us the energy to do what is appropriate in the Kingdom of God. Praying may seem a futile practice. It requires practice. The religious fervor and seeking understanding of the Jews during the Babylon Captivity of 70 plus years revitalized Judaism and brought about the codification of the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures. Patience and persistence are elements of prayer that make prayer seem meaningless. God’s time is not ours. As we prepare our hearts we may be preparing for the welfare and growth of our children and grandchildren.
Dennis Keller <Dennis@PreacherExchange.com>
****************************************************** ****************************************************** ****************************************************** 4. ****************************************************** ****************************************************** 5. ****************************************************** Volume 2 is for you. These reflections follow the Liturgical Calendar and appear here about mid week each week. They are written by various guest authors. If you would like to submit a reflection of your own, then click here to send an email request to post to the Webmaster. Deadline is Monday of each week for the upcoming Sunday.
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A service of The Order of Preachers,
The Dominicans. (form revised 10/13/2025) |
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