The Parable of the Persistent Widow
No fixed feast day in the calendar
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Jesus tells of a widow who keeps asking a judge, to teach you to pray always and not give up
What is this parable?
A parable is a story Jesus tells to teach a lesson about the Kingdom of Heaven. The parable of the widow and the judge is in the Gospel of Saint Luke (cf. Lk 18:1-8). Saint Luke tells us its purpose right away: the Lord wants to teach his disciples to pray always and not lose heart.
The story
Jesus tells this story: in a certain town there was a judge who “neither feared God nor respected any human being.” (Lk 18:2). In that town there was also a widow. In those days, a widow was often poor and powerless, with no husband to stand up for her. She came to him again and again, saying: “Render a just decision for me against my adversary.” (Lk 18:3). A just decision means judging fairly.
For a long time, the judge refused. But then he thought: this woman keeps bothering me, so I will give her a just decision and be done with it, or she will keep coming and wear me out (cf. Lk 18:4-5).
The card shows the moment when the widow stands before the court pleading once again, and the judge raises his hand as if he has given in. The Gospel does not say how old she was; the white hair and the two onlookers are details the artist added.
What does Jesus want to teach you?
If even a bad judge would listen, how much more will God, our good Father! Jesus asks: “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?” (Lk 18:7). The judge is not a picture of God; Jesus uses him to show that God is infinitely better.
Praying with perseverance does not mean you are sure to get exactly what you ask for. Sometimes God does not give it right away, sometimes he gives something else that is better, because he knows what is best and when the right time is; but he always listens to you. At the end of the parable, the Lord asks: “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8). Praying with perseverance is how we keep our faith.
A lesson for you
- Have fixed times for prayer every day: in the morning when you wake up and at night before you go to sleep.
- When you have not yet received what you asked for, do not be angry with God; keep asking with faith.
- Pray for people who are weak and treated unfairly.
Identifying marks
- A small, white-haired widow, holding out her open hands as she pleads: someone who prays humbly and does not give up, even when her prayer has not yet been answered.
- The judge sitting on a high stone seat, in a red cloak with a golden border: a powerful man who does not fear God; Jesus uses him as the opposite of our good God.
- The judge raising his hand, looking tired: in the end he gives her a just decision; if even an unjust judge will listen, how much more will God our Father.
- Two people watching in the background: the widow’s persevering faith is a lesson for everyone who sees it.
The text on this page is the card in the Catholic Information app, word for word.
Compiled by i-Catholic · About