8 When the Israelites were at Rephidim, the Amalekites came and attacked them. 9 So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites in the morning. As for me, I will stand with God’s staff in my hand at the top of the hill.”
10 Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had directed, while Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 It happened that when Moses raised his hands, the Israelites would win but when he lowered them, the Amalekites would have the advantage.
12 As Moses’ arms grew weary they placed a stone for him to sit on while Aaron and Hur on either side held up his arms which remained steadily raised until sunset. 13 For his part Joshua mowed down Amalek and his people with the sword.
Beloved, You call us as a body to climb up Your holy mountain and there to make intercession for those who do battle in the world. Our prayers sustain them. Prayer is the backbone of any work that is undertaken in Your Name. If what we do is to be successful, then it must be backed by prayer. There are so many in the world whose life work is to minister to the sick and the poor, to educate, to feed, to help, to preach. We are called like Moses to make constant intercession for them so that their work may be fuelled with Your grace and that they may have the strength to persevere and not be discouraged.
2 Timothy 3:14--4:2
14 As for you, continue with what you have learned and what has been entrusted to you, knowing from whom you received it. 15 Besides, you have known the Scriptures from childhood; they will give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, refuting error, for correcting and training in Christian life. 17 Through Scripture the man of God is made expert and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
4 • 1 In the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by the hope I have of his coming and his kingdom, I urge you 2 to preach the Word, in season and out of season, reproving, rebuking or advising, always with patience and providing instruction.
Beloved, here St. Paul reminds us to be faithful to the teaching we have received. Wisdom comes with being familiar with Your Word. If we know the Scriptures then we know what is pleasing to You. We know how You wish Your disciples to act in any given situation. We know what is expected of a disciple. We know the touchstone by which we examine our lives and whether we are living by those standards. Familiarity with the Scriptures means becoming familiar with You. Having knowledge of You will help us to carry out with confidence the work that we know has been entrusted to us. We are called to preach the Word in season and out of season, using the Word as the measure by which we do all things. Our life is a living witness and testament to what we believe. As Fr. Franco says, "I am the 5th Gospel."
Luke 18:1-8
• 1 Jesus told them a parable to show them that they should pray continually and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor people. 3 In the same town was a widow who kept coming to him, saying: ‘Defend my rights against my opponent.’ 4 For a time he refused, but finally he thought: ‘Even though I neither fear God nor care about people, 5 this widow bothers me so much I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing me out.”6 And Jesus explained, “Listen to what the evil judge says. 7 Will God not do justice for his chosen ones who cry to him day and night even if he delays in answering them? 8 I tell you, he will speedily do them justice. Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Beloved, we live in an evil and corrupt age and it is a scandal that there are those in this world who just shrivel up and die for lack of the most basic needs required to keep body and soul together. On the other hand we have peope who live in obscene opulence who are heedless of those who lie and die outside their gates. The Church and all men of goodwill do their best despite corrupt people, politicians and governments. We are called to not lose heart and to pray with faith. We must pray always and as we pray, God shapes and moulds us into the people He wants us to be. We each have to make our own contribution even if it is only a drop in the bucket.
Psalm 121:1-8
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains –
from where shall come my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
3 Will he let your foot slip,
the one watching over you?
Will he slumber?
4 No, the guardian of Israel
neither slumbers nor sleeps.
5 The Lord is your guardian, the Lord is at your side and you in his shade;
6 Sunstroke will not be for you by day,
nor the spell of the moon by night.
7 The Lord guards you from every evil;
he will protect your life.
8 The Lord watches over your coming and going
both now and forever.
Beloved, I needed consolation this morning and You have consoled me in the verses of this psalm. I revel in Your love and care for me. Having You my Beloved as my Guardian by day and by night who else do I need? I have all I need in You.
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