Delivered by Celine from the Parish of Santo Marinus Yohanes in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Wisdom 18: 14-16; 19: 6-9; Rs psalm 105: 2-3.36-37.42-43; Luke 18: 1-8.
GOD ACTS QUICKLY ANDRIGHTLY
The title for ourmeditation today is: God Acts Quickly and Rightly. A 6-year-old girl often accompaniedher mother to shop at the market. She notices that her mother always requestsfor discount to the things being bought. What a surprise! She asks for discountmore than half of the price. When the seller objects the discounted price, themother always says: "Sorry, we have nothing, we are very poor."
On one occasion thegirl used her small savings to buy something at the shop nearby. She alsowanted to ask for dicount imitating what her mother usually does. Before sayingwhat she wanted to buy, she first said to the shop owner, "Sorry, we havenothing, we are very poor." Then she showed the item she was about to buy.The shop owner took the item and gave it to the little girl for free.
In this life we seemeetings between the small and big ones, poor and rich, master and servants,powerful and powerless. The screams and cries of the poor or little ones alwaysattract attention. They shout either directly to certain people who immediatelygive attentions, or openly to the public and it's up to anyone who would payattention to them. Their screams and cries can only stop after their requestsare answered or attended.
God has compassionfor these people. God acts quickly and becomes their savior at the right time.They are the people who do not have supporters, defenders and protectors. Theparable of the widow and her case to be solved by the lawyer in today's gospelpassage is an example of how the divine assistance comes at the very time manreally needs. In the scriptures there are many similar examples that show God'shelps come quickly and rightly.
Many of us have everexpereinced God's helps comes quickly and rightly. Some people admit that theirprayers have not been answered. Therefore, they tend to view God is not yet intheir side. Some are patient enough to wait for an answer at the right time.Some have given up because they already waited for a long time, then theybecome passive and apathetic. Some even are emotionally driven by anger orhostile towards God because they are frustrated knowing no sign of the Lord'sfavor for them.
It maybe true thatthe time is not yet right. Why? Because God is using our neighbors to be thehelpers. For sure, our immediate helps should come from there. The helpsactually come from God himself, who uses neighbors who are near to us.
Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Lord, we pray and we hope for the security and worthiness of our brothersand sisters who are so helpless and distress; may they find your favor andaccept all helps with gratitude. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to theHoly Spirit ... In the name of the Father ...