Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, ‘In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, “Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.”’ And the Lord said, ‘Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’ (NRSV).
Prayer can be a difficult concept. It raises questions about the nature of God and the nature of our role in God’s action in the world. Why does an all knowing God need us to ask? What difference does my prayer make to the heart of God?
Our reading assures us that we are not the first to ask such questions or to wonder about prayer. The disciples have previously asked Jesus to teach them to pray and he taught them them his prayer.
Yes, prayer can be taught and learned. It is a reassuring thought.
Our reading continues the education of Jesus’ followers in this important aspect of faith. He offers two parables for them to chew over.
The first is directed at our potential to ‘lose heart’ and an exercise in contrast The one asked to make change is clearly not good. He is described as arrogant, disrespectful, and in denial of the importance of his senior role for bringing about a just society. He has given up the pursuit of equality and is more concerned for self-preservation.
But there is one we have come to know as ‘the persistent widow’.’This unnamed woman pursues a just judgment, badgering the judge until he responds. He eventually reasons that it would be better to grant justice than be worn down by her ‘continually coming’. It is not a high or noble reasoning, but even he has taken the first step towards intervention.
From here Jesus contrasts this judge and God with two simple questions. Both point to the listener’s knowledge of God – assuming they know that God is not to be closely associated with the reluctant and slow response of the judge. For those who are struggling for an answer Jesus makes it even plainer: ‘I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them.’
Jesus final question is a sobering wondering on Jesus part if, even with a responding and generous God, faith will survive.
The second story calls for humility in prayer and is openly directed toward those who think much of themselves. Although Jesus challenged the notion, the Pharisee was widely viewed as an exemplary religious practitioner and teacher. The tax-collector too was as much considered a betrayer of his nation and therefore one who forfeited his Jewish inheritance. Again this was a perception Jesus confronted.
And it would seem that these stereotypes have found their way into the prayer life of these two men. One comes before God with an inflated sense of self-righteousness. The other with a deflated sense worth. each has taken on the characteristics that are expected.
Who says society’s categorisations have no effect?
But God, it would seem, has a habit of playing the equaliser. The one expecting God’s pleasure is disappointed; the one expecting God’s wrath is pleasantly surprised. As Jesus concludes: ‘I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
To pray to the God who is perfectly represented by Jesus is to trust in one who is eager to both bring about justice and to hear the cry of the humble.