Homily for 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time by Rev. Beverly Bingle, RCWP/ Holy Spirit Catholic Community, Toledo, Ohio

Scholars are confident
that the parable in today’s Gospel
accurately reflects the message of Jesus.
The parable has two characters—the woman and the judge.
The judge does not care about people—
he is not in right relationship with others.
And he does not care about God—
he is not in right relationship with God.
In short, the judge is not just.
The woman is a widow, powerless
in a society that values men as human beings
and women as men’s property.
She asks the judge to set things right for her,
to order the protection required by the law.
And he refuses.
So she keeps on asking.
Finally, though he won’t do justice because it’s right,
he does it so he won’t be bothered by her any more.
The context of the parable, as Luke frames it,
reflects the application made by the early Christian community.
As time went on, some of the community had wavered in their faith.
The first disciples were dying, and Jesus had not returned.
They wondered if God had abandoned them.
So their concern over the delay of the Parousia
led them to read the parable
as an encouragement to continue to follow the Way of Jesus.
______________________________________
We are called to look at the parable,
just as our ancestors in faith did,
to learn the lesson that it holds for us.
In the words of Vatican Council II,
we are called to look at the “signs of the time”
and discern what these words of Jesus call us to.
So, what do we see going on in our world these days?
This week our nation hovered on the brink of financial disaster
from the federal government shutdown
and the debt ceiling debacles.
At the last minute Congress acted,
but they will return to the same issues again early next year.
In our world we have seen Syria
using chemical weapons against its own citizens,
and the United Nations
working on methods to prevent future atrocities.
In our elections we’ve suffered negative advertising
and serious lack of civility in public discourse
to the point that voter pressure
has led the two candidates for Mayor of Toledo
to pledge to conduct positive, civil campaigns on the issues
rather than attacking each other.
______________________________________
In today’s parable we see the judge
failing to do the job of justice he’s responsible for—
just as Congress has failed to do its job.
We see the widow pressing on in spite of refusal—
just as the United Nations continues to press Syria
and just as Toledoans continued
to call politicians to task about civility in campaigns. .
______________________________________
What the early Church learned from this parable
is that persistence pays.
They learned the need to keep the faith.
They learned that, in the end, perseverance leads to justice.
What are some of the things
that we can learn from the judge and the widow?
Last month we looked at the systemic conditions
that are degrading our environment
to the point that we are inflicting mortal wounds
to all of earth’s living things, including us.
It’s overwhelming. We feel powerless.
This weekend we are looking at hunger—
the systems and structures that cause hunger in our world. We know
that one in four Toledoans lives in poverty.
We know that nutritional deficiencies stemming from poverty
bring suffering, serious illness, and even death to children. And we
know that the hunger problem is global,
much worse in other countries than here.
It’s overwhelming. We feel powerless.
______________________________________
In the face of overwhelming need,
our Holy Spirit Catholic Community is organizing itself
to work on the systems and powers that cause injustice.
Millions of jobs call out for service,
and everyone in our Holy Spirit Catholic Community
is involved in some active work of social justice.
Every single one of you regularly engages
in hands-on volunteer work.
Some teach and tutor;
some donate soups and casseroles
and shirts and shoes and bus tokens;
some bring dignity and support to folks in the dying process;
some give rides to seniors who can’t drive any more;
some tend their grandchildren
so their parents can make a living;
some serve as docents at the Art Museum,
improving the quality of life for everyone;
some give advice and counsel.
For some of you the hands-on service is part of your “day job,”
and you do it with a spirit of care and dedication
that goes way beyond your paycheck.
Some of you do it as part of your family life,
with a spirit of cheerfulness and affection
that goes way beyond the task at hand.
Others do it for strangers you’ll never meet, or never see again,
with a spirit of joy and love.
It’s overwhelming.
At times we all feel powerless in the face of such great need.
But we do it anyway.
______________________________________
The lesson for today is that justice will win.
When it looks like no one cares whether we show up or not,
when it looks like we’ll never have enough food to go around,
when it looks like the planet is doomed,
Jesus is telling us to keep at it.
Our God is a God of justice,
and justice will prevail.
Amen.

--
Holy Spirit Catholic Community
Mass at 2086 Brookdale (Interfaith Chapel):
Saturdays at 4:30 p.m.
Sundays at 9 a.m.
Mass at 3535 Executive Parkway (Unity of Toledo)
Sundays at 5:30 p.m.
www.holyspirittoledo.org

Rev. Bev Bingle, Pastor
419-727-1774