TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YR C
Ex 17:8-13: Ps 121:
2 Tim 3:14-4:2: Lk 18:1-8
FACING THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE
The Israelites faced many challenges on their journey to the Promised Land. One of those challenges is what we read of today in our first reading. They encountered Amalek, a formidable force, who waged war against them. At this, Moses directed Joshua to recruit some men to battle Amalek. Moses would also go up the mountain and hold up the staff of the Lord while they fight.
Like the children of Israel, we too face many challenges on this journey of life. A challenge like what we read about in Exodus 17:8-13, is no small matter. It is a great challenge for people who are not soldiers or military to be confronted by a formidable army. When we face great challenges in our lives, many times we feel like giving up. But the Word of God today comes to direct and equip us.
The first thing Moses did was to ask Joshua to recruit men to fight. When we face challenges, we should also confront them with our skills and talents. Paul assures us that God will not let us be tempted beyond our abilities. No challenge comes our way that is beyond us (1Cor. 10:13). We must trust in our ability and skill to overcome every challenge we face. It is important to know that God is aware he has given us brains, talents and skills, and he will not do for you what you can accomplish by the excellence of your thoughts and skills. This is because these skills are also gifts from him. God is raising us to be eagles not chickens.
Prayer should never replace the effort demanded to face the challenges of life. No amount of prayer will accomplish what you must apply personal effort to. For example, no amount of prayer will get you a job if you have no employable skills.
Secondly, Moses stood up the hill with the staff of God raised. It was the same staff that became a snake when Moses threw it before Pharaoh; the same staff that was used for many miracles in Egypt. This staff was a testimony or a sign of God’s power to act for and on behalf of his people. But the staff itself had no power to perform any miracle, it was the power of God that enabled it. God used it to demonstrate his power.
The raising of the staff of God is an act of prayer. As much as we face our challenges with our talents and skills, we must pray also. In prayer, God comes to our aid. He endows us with great strength to face the challenges that confront us. When we pray God gives us inspiration, direction and courage.
Prayer and effort are two sides of the same coin. The words of St. Augustine summarize it beautifully, “pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you”.
A life of prayer is indispensable for the Christian journey. This is because apart from the mundane challenges we face, we also encounter spiritual battles with the forces of darkness and for this we need supernatural help.
Moses in raising up his hand while the people fought, was interceding for them. We must learn to support others in prayer when they are going through difficulties. Many people today just offer lip service of intercession without actually praying for the people they promised to pray for. When you promise to pray for someone, remember to do so. And like Moses don’t do it for a moment, do it until the difficulty has passed.
Each one of us must build a strong personal prayer life. A strong personal prayer life gives us the confidence of interceding for others.
When Moses was tired, there was Aaron and Hur to help him keep his hand up. Sometimes it becomes difficult as a Christian, we may get tired because we are not seeing results. In those moments, we need the help of others. Our challenges can seem to overwhelm us and drive us to our wits end. In these moments prayer can become tough. We also need an Aaron and Hur in our lives. We should look out for some people in church to help us pray. These are people who are specifically your prayer partners and nothing else. They are not people you gossip with but those you pray with. Sometimes they are called spiritual friends.
There is the tendency among some Christians to make everything about prayer. They pray without putting in the effort or work. Many use the productive part of the day praying that God should grant them success. What is he supposed to bless when you are not doing anything.
May we learn to balance our Christian lives. May the Lord grant us excellence of intellect, talent and skill. May he grant us the grace to turn to him always in moments of distress, and may he deliver us.
God bless you.
By Rev. Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
