\tPersistence isn’t a trait that we seem to value very much. \u00a0It’s much more our style to expect quick results, and to give up when we don’t get them. \u00a0Think about it. \u00a0Most people don’t write letters any more. \u00a0Not the kind that you write by hand with a paper and pen, an envelope and a stamp. \u00a0We’re much more likely to communicate by email, text message, twitter, or even phone. \u00a0It’s so much quicker and easier. \u00a0Not that I think there’s anything wrong with email and text messages. \u00a0They’re really my lifeline. \u00a0But it’s been a long time since I’ve gotten a real letter, written by hand.<\/p>\n
\tWe are pretty quick to give up when we don’t get instant results. \u00a0I remember 100 years ago, when I was a little kid, we were taught that when you called someone on the phone, you waited 10 rings for them to answer, since people often had to run to get to the phone. \u00a0Today, people have four or five phones in the house. \u00a0And ten rings? \u00a0We’re lucky if we get four. \u00a0If the phone isn’t answered in four rings, what do people expect? They expect voicemail. \u00a0You’d be lucky if someone actually tried to call you twice. \u00a0With ubiquitous mobile phones, all-the-time internet access, and instant messaging, we expect immediate access, and immediate answers.<\/p>\n
\tWe don’t value persistence all that much. \u00a0If we don’t get an immediate response, we’re off to something else. \u00a0Time to change channels. \u00a0Try something new. \u00a0And yet, we value the people who stick with it. \u00a0Remember Cal Ripkin of the Baltimore Orioles? Why was Cal Ripkin such a hero? \u00a0Was he the greatest baseball player who ever lived? \u00a0Probably not. \u00a0But he stuck with it, to a degree that most people find heroic, playing 2162 consecutive games. \u00a0We have become such an impatient people, that heroism is now defined as regularly showing up, and doing your job. \u00a0That kind of persistence is something we find very difficult.<\/p>\n
\tAnd persistence in a relationship is even harder for us. \u00a0Oh, we have lots of reasons for not hanging in there, and some of them are pretty good reasons. \u00a0Still, I see lots of people in relationships, even committed ones, who seem to me to be keeping their options open. \u00a0Not really going in with the idea that this is going to be forever.<\/p>\n
\tSo what about our relationship with God? \u00a0Are we any more persistent there? \u00a0Can you keep praying when you don’t get the answer you want? \u00a0Or even worse, when you appear to get no answer at all?<\/p>\n
\tIn the Gospel we’ve got this parable of the unjust judge. \u00a0Remember, this is a parable, not an allegory. \u00a0Luke isn’t saying that God is an unjust judge who ignores our pleas. \u00a0He’s saying: if this judge, who is unjust, is finally worn down by persistence, why would you think that God, who IS just, would not answer you? \u00a0We’ll get an answer to our prayers. \u00a0But we need to remain faithful. \u00a0<\/p>\n
\tThat’s sometimes hard to do. \u00a0Have you ever felt like Moses in the first reading today? \u00a0All you have to do is hold up your arms, and the battle will be won. \u00a0And for the first ten minutes, it’s no problem. \u00a0But when the battle stretches on all day, what then? \u00a0Some times remaining faithful means doing something really simple, but doing it persistently for a long time. \u00a0It is easier to do something really hard that’s over really quickly. \u00a0But sometimes the battle isn’t over quickly. \u00a0If you’re coping with a permanent disability, or an addiction; if you have to care for an chronically ill child, or parent, or spouse; you know the feeling of having to keep those arms up through the long battle. \u00a0In this Exodus reading, how did Moses cope? \u00a0<\/p>\n
\tThe community came to his aid. \u00a0They help him sit down, and they help hold up his arms. \u00a0Seems pretty simple, doesn’t it? \u00a0Does Moses say, “Oh, no, I’m fine… \u00a0Don’t need a thing?” \u00a0Does he think, “God must want me to do this all by myself?” \u00a0No, of course not!<\/p>\n
\tBeing faithful means being persistent. \u00a0It means showing up, and doing the simple things we know we ought to do, and doing them over the long haul. \u00a0Not being bored or impatient, or looking for a way out. \u00a0But it also means doing them together. \u00a0Supporting each other, and \u00a0maybe holding someone else’s arms up until the battle is won. \u00a0God will bring swift justice to those who call out to him day and night. \u00a0But when the Son of Man returns, will he find any faith on the earth? \u00a0Or will we have hung up, or changed the channel? \u00a0Being faithful means being persistent. \u00a0And most of the time, we persist best, when we?re supporting one another.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"