Lenten Lesson: The Persistent Widow

Allowing that she wasn't the first to draw an analogy with God as the persistent widow in the parable of "The Persistent Widow and the Unjust Judge," the Rev. Dr. Mary Hendricks, rector at St. Alban's Episcopal Church challenged a community congregation of 125 to discern what message God may be sending to them as individual believers.

The reading, covering the fourth 2009 Community Lenten service, was taken from Luke 18:1-8, ending with the plaintive query of Jesus, "However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

The story involves a widow who repeatedly came before a judge -- who by his own admission, did not fear God, nor care about man -- seeking justice. Eventually, her relentlessness brought the judge to a point in time when he gave her the justice she deserved, simply to shut her up.

The introduction of the parable in Luke 18:1 indicates that the primary thrust of Jesus' message was to his disciples, encouraging them to persist in prayer, to not give up.

"Jesus knew what was coming," Hendricks said. "He knew the persecution, the oppression, the injustices that were to come. And he didn't want his followers to lose hope in difficult times."

The closing verse shows the depth of the Lord's concern, Hendricks explained. So he tells his disciples to persist, to be confident that the time of persecution would come to an end.

However, close examination of the parable holds some delight, continued Hendricks. Here is this woman, in a culture where women have little voice, repeatedly coming before this judge relentlessly demanding that he do his job, and grant her justice. She violates the silence culture demands, and reveals the truth in the words of William Herzog, when he explained that, at some level, the oppressed must collude with the oppressor for the oppression to persist.

"Her nagging paid off," said Hendricks, and though the judge's motive for granting the woman the justice she sought was self-serving, the woman did receive justice.

Turning the tables, Hendricks then introduced the concept of God, not in the place of the judge, where he may typically be pictured, but in the position of the woman.

Though the thought isn't a new one, Hendricks allowed, it is deserving of a closer look.

"Suppose we are in the position of the unjust judge," she continued, "not fearing God, nor concerned about people?"

That was certainly the position of Jonah, when he ran in the opposite direction of Ninevah, where God had told him to go, Hendricks observed.

"And Paul certainly felt righteous in his persecution of The Way," she said, recalling God's direct intervention on the road to Damascus.

Citing the widow's persistence, Hendricks asked, "Does God sometimes act like this with us? Is he calling us home? Is he calling us to his Son? Is he calling us to salvation?"

Perhaps we have become complacent in that salvation, causing him to call us to more? God is relentless, Hendricks warned. He is persistent. We may be caught up in the cares of this world, or we may be purposely running from him, said Hendricks.

God has not only called us to a personal relationship, but he also calls us to further the cause of justice, to advocate for and serve others, she stated, quoting the prophet Micah 6:8, "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

"We will never arrive at the place where we can say 'There, I did it. God can't ask for more of me,'" Hendricks warned, quickly adding, "Each time we hear and respond, we become more of the person God intends us to be."

The Rev. John Strecker-Baseler, pastor at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, sang "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy" a cappella as part of the community celebration. The Rev. Clark Bates, pastor at McCook Christian Church, served as worship leader, and reminded the community congregation to remember The Pantry with an offering of non-perishable food items in addition to the free will offering in the sanctuary for the work of the Red Willow County Ministerial Association and the offering in the Parish House to offset the cost of the luncheon, provided by the preaching minister's church.

The Lenten series continues at 12:05 p.m., Friday, at St. Alban's with the Rev. Doug Rohrer, pastor at First Assembly of God, presenting the homily on the "Parable of the Unforgiving Servant."