First Reading
Exodus 17:8-13
1. Could Moses have kept his hands raised (or “prayed constantly”) without the help of his companions? Can you relate to this story in any way? Can you let friends help you when you can’t manage it by yourself? And whom do you support spiritually?
2. In this reading some people were at battle and some––Moses, Aaron and Hur––were at intercessory prayer and action. The outcome of the battle was determined by the prayer. How important do you think prayer is to the success of your ministry? How important is prayer to anything you do?
Second Reading
2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
1. What task does Paul lay on you in this reading? What instruction book does he give you to carry out the task? Is it “inconvenient” sometimes to proclaim the word of God by being patient and encouraging?
2. Is proclaiming the Word of God central to all the activities of the Church? To your parish? To your life? How do you proclaim the Word of God in your work? In your life?
Gospel
Luke 18:1-8
1. What does Jesus’ injunction, “Pray always … ” mean to you? Do you think Jesus means only prayers of petition? What does Jesus want to make clear to you about petitioning God? Discuss this statement: “When you pray for rain, take an umbrella.”
2. In his address for the “Angelus,” Pope Francis asks, “Why does God want us ‘to cry out day and night’ to the Lord? Doesn’t he already know our needs?”And this is a good question, that leads us to deepen a very important aspect of the Faith: God invites us to pray with insistence, not because he doesn’t know what we need, or because he doesn’t listen to us. On the contrary, he always hears and knows all of us, with love. In our daily journey, especially in difficulties, in the fight against evil outside of ourselves and within us, the Lord is not far away, he is at our side; we fight, with him beside us, and our weapon is prayer, which makes us feel his presence alongside of us, his mercy, even his help.
