Persistence

Persistence is not always easy, especially today. Despite good intentions and even promises, people fail to be persistent in their diets, their exercise regimens, and even their life commitments.

(God have mercy on us all.)

Persistence is the common theme of all three of today’s readings, from the first reading's account of Moses keeping his hands raised in prayer during a long battle (Exodus 17:8-13) to our Lord’s parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8).

No matter what battles you and I may face or what issues we may have in our lives, the Lord can give us the graces of persistence and perseverance that we need.

Even if we have previously failed in our commitments or have not been persistent, God’s grace of repentance and his power of renewal are all-powerful.

The first thing, of course, is persistence in prayer, which makes all else possible.

The second thing is persistence in faithful action. It is this kind of persistence of which St. Paul speaks in today’s second reading (2 Timothy 3:14-4:2).

What St. Paul said to St. Timothy, he also says to us:

I charge you
in the presence of God
and of Christ Jesus,
who will judge the living and the dead,
and by his appearing and his kingly power:

proclaim the word;
be persistent
whether it is convenient or inconvenient;
convince,
reprimand,
encourage
through all patience and teaching.