29th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (C)

Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.

Lk 18:1-8

vv. 2-5 – This parable was originally with Lk 11:5-8 to form a doublet. Their purpose was to invite us to persevering prayer. Other doublets can be found in: 5:36-38; 13: 1-5. 18-21; 14:28-32; 15:4-10.

v. 1 - Then he told them a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.

Pray always and pray without growing weary are Pauline expressions.

Pray always: 2 Thess 1:11; Phil 1:4; Rom 1:10; Col 1:13; and Philemon 4.

Pay without growing weary: 2 Thess 3:13; 2Cor 4:1.16; Gal 6:9; and Eph 3:13.

This prayer is centered on the eschatological return of Jesus. Lk 18:6-8 and Lk 17:20-27 (preceding discourse).

v. 2 - "There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being.”

This was not a judge under the Jewish Law. Ordinary disputes were brought before an elder. In matters of Jewish Law demanding arbitration, there were three judges. One judge is chosen by the plaintiff, the second by the defendant and the third, was independently chosen.

Therefore, the judge here was appointed either by Herod or the Romans. They were called Dayyaneh Gezeroth, judges of prohibition. However, they were popularly called Dayyaneh Gezeloth, robber judges because they demanded and received bribes.

v. 4-5 - For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, 'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.'"

In the parables of Luke, characters often express their inner thoughts by means of a monologue: Lk 12:17; 15:17-19; 16:3; 18:4; and 20:13.

It seems that instead of “lest she finally come and strike me” the translation should be: “lest she pester me to death”. This is because it is the widow’s insistence that finally brought her justice.

v. 6 - The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.

Luke uses this title “Lord” 20 times in the narrative section. This count excludes the vocation use of “Lord”. Matthew (21:3) and Mk (11:3) use the title only once.

By using the title “Lord”, Luke wants to emphasize the mysterious majesty of Jesus.

v. 7 - Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them?

Luke does not hesitate to compare God to the dishonest judge. But in this case, comparison does not mean similar but different.

Also , he uses an “a fortiori” line of reasoning, that is, if dishonest judge acts this way, how much more will God act on your behalf.

This verse seems to be a reassurance in the face of seeming inaction of God regarding the evil in the world or the delay of the Parousia (Second Coming of Jesus). Cf. 2Pt 3:9 and Rev 6:9-11.

v. 8b - But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

The coming of the Son of Man is a judgment that will happen in the indeterminate future. And therefore, will your faith be strong enough in the face of the delay of the Parousia?

The second half of verse 8 is independent of the parable. It refers to the apostasy that will grow until the end of time. This is a classic theme of eschatology. Cf. 2Thess 2:3 and Mt 24:10-12.