The parable in this week’s gospel tells the story of a widow and a judge. The widow kept going to the judge to ask for justice against her opponent while the judge kept refusing. The judge himself admits he is accountable to no one and doesn’t have a conscience (NOT a good judge), yet he is wearied and a little shamed by the woman’s continued pestering, so he decides to grant her justice just to get her to stop. Jesus points out that if a rotten judge like this will grant justice in response to persistence, how much more will God grant justice in response to our persistence, for God wants justice and more for the marginalized and vulnerable.
This passage struck particularly close to home for me this week. I’ve been in a months-long struggle with some of the local powers-that-be for what I would call justice. Though I am not a marginalized and vulnerable widow from Jesus’ time, I have felt frustrated, overwhelmed, and powerless through these months. Like the introduction to this week’s parable suggests, it has been difficult to not lose heart.
Feeling (as well as actually being) powerless in a situation can undermine our motivation, steal our resolve, and erode our hope. It makes it so hard to have faith. Yet the widow in the parable inspires us to persist. She is our model of hope and faith, even in an unjust situation. Her continued calls to this judge who doesn’t care at all contrasts with our calls to God who cares deeply for each of us and all creation. She maintains faith for justice in a truly hopeless situation, encouraging us to persistence in our own situations.
Faith that God is alive and active in the world is a delicate thing. As we encounter injustice, obstacles, pain and sorrow, we may wonder if God does care. Jesus’ parable reminds us that God is nothing like the rotten judge or other powers we struggle with in the world. God creates us, walks with us, and transforms us. God welcomes our cries for justice and for help. God is in the midst of renewing and healing the brokenness in our lives and in the world. God has clearly made a long-term commitment to love and justice for you and me and everyone.