Oct 16

Faith and the Persistent Widow

The Persistent Widow parable is short, but we know what this parable is about in the very first sentence: “Then Jesus told them about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.” Prayer is believing that God will act. But prayer is not about bringing God a “to-do” list of things we want. Prayer is communicating with God to be in relationship with God. We must be persistent in our praying and persistent in our faith so that we do not give up. We must make time to nurture our relationship with God through individual prayers, reading of scripture, coming together with others in community to study, to worship, “to respond to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words” as our Book of Common Prayer defines “prayer”. (p. 856) Jesus asks at the end of the Gospel reading: “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Faith that is based on prayer, faith that is patient, faith that persists? This is the question that matters. Will Jesus find such faith in us?

About The Author

Dcn. Betty Breyfogle worked for years before her ordination as a nurse in the hospital setting. She cares deeply about health, whether physical or spiritual. She was a parishioner at St. Peter’s before her ordination, and she has served with us 11 years since then. Dcn. Betty is responsible for pastoral care and the Education for Ministry program, and she shares in the clergy preaching and teaching responsibilities.