Article Published

Article_prayer-justice-miami-wenski-deacons-convocation

Homilies | Saturday, November 17, 2018

Never tire in seeking justice

Archbishop Wenski's homily at deacons convocation

Archbishop Thomas Wenski preached this homily during Mass at the annual convocation of the archdiocese’s deacons, held Nov. 17, 2018, at St. John Vianney Seminary in Miami.

This morning’s Gospel, with its parable about the persistent widow and the unjust judge, is not to suggest in any way that our God is like an unjust judge. Jesus, in urging us to pray constantly, is not saying that God needs to be worn down by our petitions and prayers; rather, because God is not like that unjust judge, how much more he, who is after all a good and merciful judge, will answer our prayers.

But even as Jesus in this parable urges us to approach God with great confidence, we can also see how he urges us to persist in our quest for justice when we are before those unjust judges that do still populate our world. And so perhaps we can also see in the persistence of this poor widow an example for us never to tire in seeking justice, not just for ourselves but especially for the poor and the vulnerable. And in the ancient world, who was more poor and vulnerable than a childless widow? That’s one reason why in the early Church, the care of the widows and orphans was entrusted to the deacons.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski posted this photo on his Instagram account Nov. 17, 2018: "At St John Vianney College Seminary for Deacon Convocation. During Mass six men who aspire to deaconate received candidacy. Convocation continues with talks till mid afternoon."

Photographer:

Archbishop Thomas Wenski posted this photo on his Instagram account Nov. 17, 2018: "At St John Vianney College Seminary for Deacon Convocation. During Mass six men who aspire to deaconate received candidacy. Convocation continues with talks till mid afternoon."

Today, of course, there are still widows and perhaps not a few corrupt judges – but we might not have to deal with too many of them. But we do have today in our society an increasing number of poor and vulnerable people. For example, how many in the population of Miami-Dade County struggle just to make ends meet? The lack of affordable housing in our community has how many people paying half of their income – and sometimes more – just to house themselves and their families?

And how many in our government have been no less hardhearted than the judge in today’s Gospel in denying immigrants a just and fair reform of our broken immigration system? Immigration continues to be a “wedge issue” in our politics – with both sides content with the status quo because it allows them to appeal to their base. Like that poor widow, we must resolve to keep banging on the door so that Congress, like that wicked judge who neither respected God nor feared man, will render justice for the 10 million or so irregular immigrants in our country. And in as much as advocacy for justice, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable, is part of the social teachings of our Catholic Church, it should also be part of the DNA of the deacon and his ministry in the Church.

In the first reading, the apostle John tells those to whom he writes that the “brothers and sisters, especially the strangers” have testified as to their faithfulness. May those to whom we minister likewise render such testimony about us. Or else, as Jesus says in the Gospel, when the Son of Man comes will he find faith on the earth?

And my brothers who are to be admitted to candidacy this morning: You are making quite an important decision – a decision that must be accompanied by constant prayer. Today, you are being given the opportunity to deepen your resolve to follow the Lord Jesus and to serve the people of God. As the Church has continually insisted, no one can enter into ordained service unless he has been called, chosen and sent. Today, after a period of discernment and some initial formation, both you and those entrusted with your formation believe that you have indeed been called by God to serve the Church as deacons. To have discerned such a vocation is certainly a grace – a grace to which one strives to be faithful. Of course, your formation – your spiritual, pastoral and academic formation — continues. And here, I address not only our candidates but all of you who are deacons already.

At any rate, God wants us to pray – and not just once in a while. In fact, St. Paul tells us to “pray always.” And that’s the point of today’s parable. It’s not about the attitude of the unjust judge but about the attitude of the poor widow. 

Prayer and perseverance in prayer are for our sake – not for God’s sake. Perseverance allows us to marshal enough power and to gather enough inner resources in order to win the victory in the battle against all that would diminish us as men and women.

The same is true with the widow in her continual pleas for justice. The same ought to be true for you and me.

God will not transform our world for us. God is not a great big magic genie who responds to our every little beck and call. To think of God in those terms is to believe that God exists to serve us, and not we to serve God.

You and I know that we are dealing with gigantic forces of evil in our world. We see it in how cheaply life is regarded. We see it in the poverty that afflicts so many. We see it in terrorism that frightens us all, in racial and ethnic strife, in the break-up of the family. We see it in the relativism that has infected our culture.

But God will transform our world only with us. His interventions into our lives occur only through us, and with us, and in us, if and when we yield to His Holy Spirit, surrender to His presence, and take a hold of and claim His power.

We can’t make peace, we can’t make a more just society, and we can’t change our spouses or our kids like we can make instant coffee. That takes sustained and persevering effort. Of course, we will often fail. We are all less than what we strive to be. But the answer to failure is not resignation; it is not settling for second best, or third best. 

God will work with us; but he won’t work without us.

And so, listen to what the Word of God is telling us today. God is always willing to answer our prayers – but he does so on his terms not on ours. On our part, we must pray always, and pray with confidence and with perseverance. That’s how Moses prayed with outstretched arms held up by his assistants. That’s how Jesus prayed – with his arms outstretched on the cross.

To our candidates’ wives and to their families and to the deacons and their wives who are gathered here, I repeat the words of John in today’s first reading: “Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey.”

Powered by Parish Mate | E-system

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply