[AI translation] Jesus sometimes uses surprisingly bold metaphors. Here, too, in this parable, he uses the figure of a judge of truly dubious morals to illustrate God's attitude to our prayers. So let us try to understand Jesus' teaching.The widow in the parable is none other than the praying congregation. Imagine - especially in the old world - a widow! There is no one more defenceless than she. She is at the mercy of everyone. Someone insignificant, someone who can be neglected, someone who can be put aside, someone who no longer plays a role in society. And the congregation? Such a defenceless person in this world, an insignificant factor among the powerful and influential of the world, a negligible factor in society. There is no one to take his side, to count on, to stand by him... And yet, when this helpless, abandoned widow - the congregation - folds her hands in prayer: she literally intervenes as a great power in the fate of the world. For it is the praying church that God has given the right to participate in the government that God exercises over the world. You know the old Old Testament story of Sodom and Gomorrah, in which the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah depended on ten righteous men and one praying man? Or the other story of Moses praying on the mountain while his people fought a battle with the Amalekites in the valley, and the outcome of the battle was determined by how Moses persevered or tired in the service of prayer?! These old stories also tell us that prayer, the praying church, can have a history-shaping effect... This is what this parable is about. Here is the lesson: "Will not God be avenged of his elect, who cry to him day and night, though he be longsuffering to them! I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily."
Is not this too bold a statement? Is it not the case in the world that the balance of power decides the issues, that the balance of economic and military power shapes the course of history? These tend to be the essential factors that play the decisive role on the chessboard of history, and the outstanding individuals who have the upper hand over these forces. Yes, we see that. And yet Jesus says that God gives to the praying church a part in the government of the world, that it is the praying church that has the supreme say in the destiny of nations, in the problem of the peace of the world, by its own supplications. If this is true - and Jesus meant what he said - then an almost uncanny responsibility rests on every praying man and every praying congregation.
Jesus' church is as insignificant a factor in this world as a helpless widow; it has no military power, no political power, no economic power. It would not be good if it did, nor does it need it, because God has given the church a different kind of weapon: prayer. That wonderful instrument with which to intercede before the supreme power, the throne of the One who alone decides supremely in the development and unfolding of the world drama, in the question of war and peace, blessing and cursing, punishment and reward! In the words of a great theologian: that poor widow - the church - occupies the key strategic position in shaping world events. The congregation, in a special way, lies at the heart of God. And to the church God has promised that this heart will not be deaf to those who cry out to Him day and night. And he who has an influence on the heart of God: he shall govern the world.
So that poor widow is indeed a world power! That hand clasped in prayer is indeed a fearful, but blessed weapon in this world. Do we know this? Should not this weapon be more consciously used in shaping the solution to the Vietnam War, for example? And in the big issue of the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes? Would not life on this earth be more peaceful and more tranquil if this defenceless widow, this 'great power', were to play its role in the management of world affairs more fully? If she really believed what Jesus said, "Does not God do justice for his elect who cry out to him day and night?" Can there be a greater service of the church for this world than to cry out to God day and night? The most and most serious subject of prayer ought to be supplied by the daily papers to the praying man. Have you ever been moved to prayer and supplication by reading the newspapers? I would venture to say, on the basis of this Word, that much would be different in this constellation in which we live if it were surrounded by the prayer ring of the churches. So let us dare to make conscious use of this position of power and dare to use this miraculous weapon!
Look: this widow in the parable was almost a burden to the judge, he molested her so much. He never tired of it, he kept going back to her, he kept going over her problem again and again. That's why Jesus says: always pray and do not give up. God does not resent the harassment. In fact, He sees in us that we take His promises seriously. It is not indecent or inappropriate to cry out to Him "day and night". In fact, it is in this that He sees the trust of a child. It is good to be a whipping boy! Perhaps it is precisely because we do not. You see, if Jesus had not lived on this earth, if His cross had not been a testimony to God's love for us, if He had not let His heart be torn asunder for us there on Calvary, it would be arrogant conceit indeed to think that we can simply come before Him with our petitions, that we can pester Him, the Lord of all, with the trifles of our little star. How could a man ever get the idea that God cares about his problems? But now that Jesus has been here: we can come, and in Jesus' name! And God is pleased because He sees by this that we believe in Him, that we take Him seriously, that we have a childlike trust in Him. Jesus exhorts us to "pray always and not to faint", that is, not to get tired, not to lose heart, hope and confidence that it is not in vain!
Well, this widow is a particularly good example of this. She was really persistent in her persecution of this judge, so that in the end the judge helped her because, as he said, "this widow is a burden to me, I will free her so that she will not torment me by her incessant visits." The woman's perseverance is connected with the fact that the judge was a man of base wretchedness and a man of stony heart, and it took a long time of siege before he got anything from her. But it was this very righteousness behind the indifference that spurred the woman to persevere to the end. In this, too, Jesus has a powerful lesson for us. Because sometimes God seems to be just as hard-hearted and indifferent! It is as if one cries out to Him in vain! Sometimes our prayer is like a phone call where no one answers on the other end, or like someone hanging up when we want to talk to him about our problem. Our destiny sometimes seems to be guided by blind chance, without any sign of a higher, loving thought. One cries out and cries out, and there is no answer! It is as if one cries out on the shore into the roar of the great waters: the sound is swallowed up by the endless ocean... Who has not had such experiences of prayer? In such a situation, one resigns oneself to the unchangeable, or despairs, or loses interest in everything, or secretly shakes one's fist at the sky that has closed overhead... Well, it was this mysterious silence of the judge that spurred this widow of the parable to an even stronger attack, an even more insistent supplication!
Is not God's silence also sometimes to teach us something? That we should not immediately become discouraged, angry, offended, resigned to what must come, but on the contrary, that we should remain in constant contact with Him in conversation with Him, in His persecution. The whole parable is told by Jesus with the exhortation to "pray always and not to be moved" - is not God sometimes listening and waiting for us to call on Him all the more earnestly and all the more longingly? Perhaps He wants us to seek Him more fervently. And He has already found us!
And this is where we can see what a huge difference there is between God and this parable judge! This Judge is, without doubt, indeed what God appears to be in our little faith! This Judge is indeed hard-hearted, unjust - and God is sometimes seen as such only by our unbelief. In the end, that judge only gives way because the woman is burdened with all the harassment. "How much more will God," says Jesus, "do justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night?" Do you sense the subtle irony of Jesus in this? It is as if he were saying: You so-called believers are immediately discouraged, as soon as God is not at your disposal at your first groaning. But even if He delays for a moment in consoling you, in helping you, He does so only to see how faithful you can remain in Him, how much you trust in Him! And He is only waiting to come with His deliverance at times when you would not expect it and in ways you cannot imagine... That is you! Just look at this widow who was truly confronted with a false judge and yet did not give up and persevered! She had to soften a heart harder than stone! And you, with your prayers to God, have only to enter through an open door! If even such a heartless judge bows to the plea of a helpless widow, will not "God, the all-hearted God, do justice for His elect who cry to Him? Verily I say unto you, He will speedily do justice!" Fear not then: a request not yet granted is not as much as a request already denied! If He has not yet granted some request you have sent to Him crying day and night, it does not mean that He has already denied you that request! That's why He just said the whole parable about "always praying and not failing!"
There's another serious warning at the very end of the parable, "Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith in the earth?" Prayer is the spiritual readiness of the believer, a means of watchful waiting, of expectation for Christ. One thing is certain: that our prayers will be answered up there. But whether there are people down here praying, truly waiting for Jesus in prayer, is not so certain! We used to ask, "Where is a God who listens?" And God asks, "Where is a man who prays?" Which question is right? When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? For the Son of Man will come when the time is right. But will there still be those who have the oil of prayer in their lamps? Will there be such luminous points on earth by which Jesus will recognise His praying faithful, or is there only great darkness and sleep awaiting Him? Will you and I be such luminous points, or will we also be shining?
Behold, the parable closes with the question, "When shall the Son of man come, or shall he find faith on the earth?" Let each man answer for himself.
Amen.
To scatter the night of souls with light:
The Lord has entrusted this to you, see,
And to bring in the holy name of Christ
Deliverance to the sinner.
He gave the blood of God for us;
See how his holy example works,
And that, walking in his blessed way with faith
Thy whole self thou givest.
(Canticle 472, verse 3)
Date: 25 September 1966.
Lesson
1Tim 2,1-6