God will grant justice to His chosen ones who cry out to Him. Luke 18: 1-8

Sharing Guidelines

*Sharing is not a time for teaching or debate; it is a time to sense the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit who leads the gathering.

*Reflection sharing is not meant to teach others but to share the meaning you personally have discovered. Therefore, do not criticize or debate another person’s sharing. Avoid boasting of your own understanding or knowledge.

*Respect the grace of the Holy Spirit, who reveals the meaning of the Word while dwelling among us, and listen attentively to others’ sharing, holding it in your heart.

*Keep confidential any personal reflections or stories shared in the group; practicing brotherly love means not passing along private matters outside the meeting.

*When speaking, always use the first person singular (“I”). Be careful not to distance or generalize your story by using the third person (“he,” “they”) or the first person plural (“we”).

*Keep it short.

Gospel

Luke 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary. He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ 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.'”

The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. 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? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Today’s Reflection I

Jesus often teaches through contrasts and surprising twists in His parables.
Today’s Gospel is one of those stories. Its main message—“pray always without becoming weary”—is clear even without extra explanation. In this parable, the unjust judge is set in sharp contrast to God.

Both the judge and God have the power to give a final decision.
But the judge is described as someone who “neither feared God nor respected people.”
A widow’s plea would normally mean little to a man like him.

Still, the widow kept coming back again and again. At last the judge thought,
“Because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her a just decision.”
Even though it was only to stop her persistence, he finally did what was right.

Here we see the difference between the unjust judge and our loving, merciful God.
If even an unfair judge can give justice in the end, how much more will God act!
Jesus assures us that God “will quickly bring about justice” for those who cry out to Him.

The widow’s deep desire for a just decision moved the heart of someone who cared for nothing.
If we pray with that same steady determination, God will surely hear our petitions.

Let us bring our needs to the Lord with trust and with a heart that does not give up. (Rev. Huh Kyu 허규 베네딕토 신부)
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Today’s Reflection II
Prayer is a personal conversation with God.
It is not that God answers only according to how much we pray.
Rather, when we pray and live according to His will, He responds in His time and way.
Jesus’ teaching, “pray always without becoming weary” reminds us that when we complain that our prayers are not answered—or when we give up praying—it may show that our intentions are not pure, or that we lack trust and attention toward the God to whom we pray.

The scene of the unjust judge who finally grants the widow’s request is striking.
From a worldly point of view, even an unjust judge will eventually give a fair decision if someone keeps pleading and refuses to give up—if only to stop the bother.
Although the judge’s motives were not pure, Jesus uses this story of the widow’s persistence and sincerity to teach us how we should pray to God.

True prayer rests on deep trust in God.
Unlike human relationships, where trust often grows only when our wishes are met, God guides and cares for us according to His wisdom, beyond our own plans or standards.
Because of this, the growth of faith can sometimes feel hard or slow.
But real assurance comes when we learn to recognize and follow God’s will, not just our own.

Perhaps this is why Jesus said, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Today, may our prayer become a request to understand God’s will more clearly and to walk in it with confidence. (Rev. Song, Yong Min 인천교구 송용민 사도 요한 신부)

Sharing:

1) Let’s share a verse or words that touched your heart.

2) Unlike human relationships, where trust often grows only when our wishes are fulfilled, the Lord guides and cares for us according to His own loving plan. Share a moment when things did not go the way you hoped, yet you learned to trust God more deeply.

3) The priest reminds us that martyrdom is a gift—a chance to show our faith. In a place like ours, with religious freedom and many blessings, how might we show our faith to the Lord in our daily lives?

4) Our calling is to pray that God will one day bring an end to all injustice and open the way to a new heaven and a new earth through Jesus. Let’s reflect on the injustices we notice today and join together in prayer for God’s help.