Moses’ posture - with arms outstretched - is profoundly symbolic. It’s the same posture Christ took on the Cross, where He interceded for all humanity with the most perfect prayer ever offered - the sacrifice of the Lamb of God. It’s also the same posture used by priests during the liturgy, known as the orans position (Latin for “the one who is praying” or “pleading”). In each case, we see an image of intercession and prayer offered not just for oneself, but on behalf of others.
But here’s where the misunderstanding can creep in: We might assume that if we simply pray hard enough, or long enough, we will automatically receive what we ask for. This isn’t what Jesus is teaching.
In our Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the unjust judge and the persistent widow. The widow relentlessly pleads for justice, and the judge finally relents - not out of virtue, but to be rid of her persistence. She’s bothering him! Jesus uses this comparison not to liken God to the unjust judge, but to show how persistence has power. Then Jesus says something interesting:
“I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.”
It’s easy to misinterpret this, assuming that persistence guarantees a speedy answer to prayer in the way we expect. But this isn’t quite what Jesus is saying.
First, Jesus is emphasizing the necessity of regular, ongoing prayer. Why? Because prayer is about relationship. No relationship can exist without communication. Deep relationships are built through mutual self-disclosure which is the heart of prayer: opening ourselves to God and allowing Him to reveal Himself to us.
I often use the acronym A.R.R.R. to explain this dynamic:
Back to that word “speedily.” In Greek, it’s en tachei, which can mean “quickly,” “soon,” or “without delay.” But more often, it refers to suddenness rather than immediacy. Think of a dam that suddenly bursts: the flood happens in an instant, but the pressure has been building for years. Likewise, our prayers may seem unanswered for a long time, but when God acts, it is often swift and decisive.
Also, keep in mind: God exists outside of time. As Scripture reminds us:
“With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” (2 Peter 3:8)
God’s justice unfolds in His perfect timing not ours.
Jesus ends the Gospel with a striking question:
“But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
This could be understood in two ways:
One of my favorite definitions of prayer comes from St. Theophan the Recluse (a saint recognized in the Eastern Orthodox Churches):
“To pray is to stand before God with the mind in the heart, and to do so until the end of one’s life.”
So let us remain steadfast in prayer, standing before the Lord with hearts open, until the day we meet Him face to face.
Know of my prayers for you all!
Fr. Ryan