By Aldo Brandon Vibi csc –
Readings: 3Jn 1:5-8; Lk 18:1-8
In today’s gospel reading, the parable of the widow and the unjust judge reveals to me the power of prayer. It has been so many years that I have prayed for the conversion my dad. He was addicted to alcohol and lived life as he wanted. Today, when I look back at my life, I have not given up my fervent prayer. I am given grace to understand my father and his life’s struggles. I am granted a gentle and compassionate heart to care for my dad.
Like the widow in the gospel, my plea has been answered. I am happy to see the changes in me and my father. I strongly believe in the power of prayer. Our God is not an unjust judge. Then why does it take a long period of yearning for grace in human lives? We cannot fully comprehend God’s plan in our life. I have taken ten years to understand the struggles of my dad.
He never shared with me his problems, but I had seen only the reaction of those struggles. We all have different issues that need to be dealt with in our lives. Jesus narrated this parable to tell us that prayer always works, and one must not lose heart. The pandemic pressures have not left us, but we have not stopped to help or share our goods with others. We are doing it even today in our own little ways. Let us pray to our heavenly Father that our long years of prayer may give us grace to rightly understand our life’s struggles.