FROM WHERE SHALL COME MY HELP?

XXIX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Psalm 120:1-8

The responsorial psalm gives us the spirit of this Sunday’s readings.

In difficult times, when we are in trouble and hopeless, unable to find a way and to find meaning for our lives, we may ask ourselves if there is anybody anywhere who may help us to come out of our inner struggles and lead us to peace. There are moments, when we are forced to accept our weaknesses, our shortcomings and our failures and then we realise that of our own we are helpless and lost. Then we may cry with the psalmist: “From where shall come my help?”. And the answer comes quickly: “My help shall come from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Indeed, 

“The Lord is your guard and your shade; 

at your right side he stands.

The Lord will guard you from evil,

he will guard your soul.

The Lord will guard your going and coming

both now and for ever.”

Sometimes, doubt may invade our hearts, and the psalmist gives expression to it, when he says:

May he never allow you to stumble!

Let him sleep not, your guard.

But the answer comes, reassuring:

No, he sleeps not nor slumbers,

Israel’s guard.

The first reading is a proof of that. As they approached the promised land, but before entering it, the people of Israel was confronted with other nations and had to fight their way through. One of such incidents was their encounter with the Amalekites, which they would have lost, but for the prayer of Moses. The people of Israel were forced to understand that their destiny is in the hands of the Lord, and he is a God who does not abandon his people. Moses with raised hands - hands of supplication, but also of praise and thanksgiving - teaches about the power of prayer. We must not get tired of knocking at God’s door. In the end, he will give us what is most important for our lives and for our salvation.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells the story of the unjust judge, who did not fear God nor respect man. He was prepotent, judging as he pleased or according to what he would profit from it. In spite of that, he was forced by a widow to judge fairly her case, giving her the protection that she demanded. And he did so just to get rid of her coming everyday to bother him. The unjust judge had to listen to the poor widow and give her rest and peace, so that he could find peace as well. If he did so, in spite of being unjust, much more God will do so, because he is the just judge and he wants to see justice being done to his chosen ones. And Jesus added:

“I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8).

The problem with us - and Jesus goes straight to the point - is faith? Do we believe? Do we have faith in God and we put ourselves totally in his hands?

Proclaim the message

To Timothy, Paul gave the following orders, which he received from the Lord:

“Proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it.” (2 Tim 4:2)

This month of October is dedicated to reflect upon the missionary dimension of our faith. It is a month of prayer, and it must be as well a month for us to commit ourselves to the proclamation of the Gospel. If Jesus is my Lord, who gives me salvation, life and peace, how can I remain silent about him? If I have experienced the loving mercy of God, how can I remain silent about it, stopping others from having the same experience? If we are christians, we have to be missionaries.

And Paul reminds Timothy of the importance of the Scriptures to lead others to Jesus Christ. From them, we “can learn the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim 3:15-16). If we read the Scriptures, guided by the Spirit, they will lead us to Christ and from them we will learn the wisdom of the children of God.