Ex. 17:8-13; Ps. 121: 1-8; 2 Tim. 3:14-4:2; Lk. 18:1-8

“Proclaim the Word; be persistent whether convenient or inconvenient.”  This is football season and the gesture a referee makes to signal a score is two arms raised up. It is a sign of victory that even as fans we join in making to celebrate with the team.  “As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Israel had the better of the fight”.  Moses arms grew tired and without the help of Aaron and Hur supporting his hands they may have lost the battle.  We have our own individual battles of life to conquer. 

We too can become tired and call on God, “Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”  To hold us up in victory God provided us the Liturgy of the Word on one side and the Liturgy of the Eucharist on the other. 

In the Liturgy of the Word we not only proclaim the word in our celebration of the Mass, but we digest it into our being and go forth to live it “whether it is convenient or inconvenient” to the world.  Simply by proclaiming it in the smallest of gestures like making the sign of the cross it announces who we are before a word is said as a “safe space” around our being Catholic before others.  It calls on our Lord God as our help to be present in our battle.  It also calls on the Holy Spirit to inspire us in what we are to say whether to “reprimand or encourage all done through patience and teaching.” 

The other hand in battle is supported by the Liturgy of the Eucharist.  The Mass is our constant prayer around the world with Jesus being lifted up in the bread and wine by the hands of the priest.  The Church prays day and night and we come to receive him to sustain our faith in battle.  Jesus asks, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”  Do we come to receive him in faith, hope, and love of his real presence?  

From the outside gestures we all stand, kneel, and respond in union but as the word of God is proclaimed and we respond it “discerns our reflections and thoughts of heart.”  It speaks to us and our state of faith.  We all are in a different place in our journey of faith and our covenant of love with God.  This too however is revealed to us as we respond to the proclamation of the word in our hearts and our “Amen” to his body and blood in the Eucharist. 

This week I witnessed a commercial on television from a self-proclaimed atheist soliciting funds on behalf of an organization to promote separation from church and state.  In concluding his promotion, he states he is not afraid of going to “hell”.  His proclamation ironically acknowledges a state of being in a place contrary to the faith of an atheist.  Beneath his denial of a God his created being speaks a truth of faith as a creature of God which by his own words brings judgment to himself.  We should pray for all atheist and agnostics while there is still time.  Meanwhile we prepare for our battle of faith with both hands held high for the victory is ours. 

Do we believe what we profess with hearts raised up or do we sit on our hands in silence?  God is waiting “to serve the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night and will not be slow to answer.”  The justice of the Lord comes “speedily” and the adversary will be defeated.