Daily Journey Through the Great Fast With the Early ChurchSample

Have you ever found yourself in a position of being entirely at the mercy of another person? Have you ever found yourself to be in a situation that you are utterly defenseless against an enemy or someone who is being unjust towards you? No, really…have you ever had to resort to getting down on your knees and begging for help because you have no clue what to do? What relief would we feel when we are helped?! What then if the person that is able to help us is a callous hearted person, what would you do? Would you quietly retreat and give up?

As Christians, we must struggle to pray without ceasing but our prayers must be firmly rooted in faith, with the quality of humility and fully dependent on God - and that is what the second week’s theme is: Struggle - Nature of the Procession is to Struggle.

In the parable of the persistent widow, the judge does not fear God, therefore not submitting himself to a higher power or authority; also, the judge does not care about others, therefore putting no value on human life – he is a callous hearted judge. The persistent widow, we are told, is poor, defenseless and desires justice against her adversary. In the end, because of the persistence in her struggle and because the judge fears his image in front of the people, he gives the widow the justice she desperately desired. We have a Just Judge in God - He is neither callous hearted nor indifferent, He always hears our cries, His judgments are always perfect and His judgments come in the perfect time. The unjust judge continually ignored the poor widow, his judgment was not based on whether the widow’s desire for justice was justified or not, nor did his judgment come swiftly. God brings judgment to come in His perfect timing, where to us it seems as a delay, He does so to allow time to strengthen His faithful servants.

“The present parable assures us God will bend his ear to those who offer him their prayers, not carelessly nor negligently but with earnestness and constancy. The constant coming of the oppressed widow conquered the unjust judge that did not fear God or have any shame. Even against his will, he granted her request. How will not he who loves mercy and hates iniquity, and who always gives his helping hand to those that love him, accept those who draw near to him day and night and avenge them as his elect?” [St. Cyril of Alexandria, 5th century Patriarch of Alexandria, theologian known as the “Pillar of Faith” and a “doctor of the Church”]