Lent Reading: Week 4, Day 3 (April 3)

Reading: Luke 18:1-8

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. ² He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. ³ And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

⁴ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think,⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.⁷ And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? ⁸ I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Reflection

Can imagine a judge like the mentioned in this parable? 

This judge does not fear God (verse 4).

This judge does not care what people think (verse 4).

This judge who does not care about widows (and those who are vunerable in society).

This judge does not care about justice (the very thing judges are supposed to care about most!).

This judge only responds because someone is wearing them out. The only reason this judge gives this widow justice is in order to get rid of her--to get her "off his back." She is nuisance and he has grown tired of her.

Can you imagine this judge?

If you can imagine this judge then know the Father Jesus tells us about is totally unlike this judge.

And so, if this unjust--evil and selfish as he is--finally gave this widown justice our Father in heaven will, even more and even more quickly, see we get justice.

But, even with all this good news about the goodness of God, when Jesus returns to the earth will he find faith on the earth (verse 8)? When Jesus returns to the earth, will He find people who are crying out to the Father, day and night, seeking justice for themselves and others?