Franciscan Friar Fr. Paul Gallagher reflects on the Gospel readings for the Twenty-ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time. Who are the people without voice or power in your community? Who advocates for them?
The content is edited by Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom and Joe Thiel. The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. To read or download the complete pdf with excerpts for your prayer, please click here: Franciscan Gospel 2025 reflection October 19 2025. Excerpts are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Photo: Adoration at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Luke 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, “There was a judge in a certain town who neither feared God nor respected any human being. And a widow in that town used to come to him and say, ‘Render a just decision for me against my adversary.’ For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought, ‘While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me.’
The Lord said, “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Background:
In the Gospel for last week, ten lepers were healed and restored to their place in the community. The Samaritan among them, while also having experienced healing, was still an outsider. But he was told by Jesus that he was saved.
Following that text in Luke’s Gospel, a Pharisee asks Jesus when the Kingdom of God will come. Jesus responds that the Kingdom of God is not like the physical world, where something exists here but not there. Rather, the Kingdom is everywhere! This leads Jesus into an extended instruction about his presence among them as the Son of Man. Following that teaching, Jesus tells two parables that focus on prayer. The first is this Sunday’s Gospel, the second is the Gospel for next Sunday.
At the time of Jesus, widows were people without status in society. When a widow’s husband died, often they returned to the house of their father or brother. Women had no independent standing in the community. They were not permitted to enter legal disputes for themselves. Because they could so easily be exploited, they were given special consideration throughout the Jewish tradition. This tradition continued in the Christian community, and is reflected in the parable Jesus tells in today’s Gospel.
At the time of Jesus and when the Gospels were written, legal decisions were not based so much on the merits of the evidence presented. Rather, decisions about disagreements were often based on the number of witnesses that would support one side or the other, and the witness’ status within the community. A judge needed to be a person whose decision could be trusted and agreeable to both parties. If not, people might begin to take matters into their own hands, and conflicts would escalate. A judge needed to have a certain personal integrity and be respected throughout the community, but also needed to be above being easily influenced for personal gain.
The parable does not include information about the nature of the case. As Jesus unfolds the parable, the woman is presumed to be in a particularly difficult place. It is presumed that she is not married or have another male who could take up her cause. Therefore, she breaks social norms of behavior and seeks justice from the judge herself. Normally men’s and women’s lives did not intersect, and women and men did not speak directly to each other. There was also a strong religious tradition that one attended to the needs of widows. Jesus describes the judge as not fearing God or respecting the human person. The judge seems to have rejected the two pillars on which all religious life is based, love of God and love of neighbor. Nonetheless he gives in to this very vulnerable woman because of her persistence. Her persistence has prevailed over this judge. God’s goodness and compassion have overcome evil and self-importance. The realm of God breaks through even in the most unlikely circumstances.
The parable challenges those whom Jesus is addressing to be as persistent as this widow in their prayer, trusting that God’s desire will prevail. “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8)
Discussion Questions:
- Who are the people without voice or power in your community? Who advocates for them?
- Have you ever felt like the widow in this parable? Did you resort to stretching social boundaries? Where did you find support?
- Are you aware of people who faithfully work for others despite difficult odds?
- Who are your models of persistent trust in God?
- Does Jesus’ own experience of persistence in prayer speak to you?
- This widow is being used by Jesus as an example of one who is persistent in prayer. Does the fact that Jesus is using a woman, a widow, as an example of how one should pray have meaning for you?
- Have there been times in your life when you wondered if God was being attentive to you, or your prayer, or your needs?
- If the Son of Man comes looking to find faith on earth, where would you point him?
- Can you take some time to talk with God about whatever struck you the most in this Gospel?
