Prayer and Persistence
“As long as Moses kept his arms raised, Israel had the advantage. However, when he let his arms fall, the advantage went to Amalek” (Ex.17:11)
The Israelites had found their new enemies with the Amalekites, a nomadic tribe who lived in the region of the Sinai desert. Today’s first reading narrates the battle between Amalek and Israel. The narration is both historic and symbolic. Deuteronomy 25:17-19 gives us the reason for Israel’s hatred against this nomadic tribe. While the Israelites were passing through the territory of Amalek to the Promised Land, the Amalek attacked from behind, killing the faint, tired and hungry – paving the way for the battle described in the first reading.
The battle was fought in two ways – through physical combat and through prayer. Moses, in today’s reading, illustrates a unique relation between a physical and a spiritual battle. When Moses became fatigued, his hands dropped down, giving the enemies an advantage.
Pope St. Leo the Great makes a comparison between Moses and Jesus. Jesus raised his hands on the cross until he conquered all the enemies of God – sin and death. Through the persistent sacrificial prayer, Moses won the battle for his people and Jesus won for us our salvation.
In the Gospel, the poor widow stands for all those who are poor, abused, vulnerable, and defenseless. Those who are weak, neglected and forgotten by society, learn to put their faith in God, for they become the ‘Poor of God’ (Anawim Yahweh). The Psalmist who knows the heart of God, prays for the ‘Poor of God’ – “may the humble not retire in confusion, may the poor and the afflicted [the Anawim] praise your Name, O Lord” (Ps.73:21).
The poor widow is a symbol of all Christians who put their entire trust in God and persist in their faith. In every situation – good or bad, joyful or sorrowful, prosperity or hardship – their prayer to God is “Lord, increase our faith” (Lk 17:5).
Persistence in prayer is preached throughout the scripture. We need prayer to achieve some impossible things. Sometimes it is an experience like waging a war. We need prayer to forgive others who have become the cause of our misery; we need prayer to resist evil inclinations causing us to be ambitious, envious, greedy, full of hatred and prone to grudges. Continuously, as Moses kept his arms raised in prayer until the sunset, we need to pray until the last breath of our life.
-Father Ranjan D’Sa OCD