A Persistent Woman (Hope 3)

Hope as intentional action in the face of long-standing injustice.

For this third and final day on the fruit of the Spirit that is Patience (Hope), I have something a bit different for you at the end of this post.

In the meantime, today’s gospel passage brings us that pesky parable with the persistent woman and the unjust judge. You likely remember her story and plight well. She does not quit. What keeps her going other than the belief that she will eventually succeed? …that she just might get justice?

The woman is not “zen.” She is utterly active in her persistence. There are times to sit still and wait. But this is not her demonstration. Injustice’s rigid response finally melts with the statement, She keeps bothering me!

But her strongest example to us could be said to be a faith - led by the Spirit - that does not sit and theorize about hope, but actively pursues it. This is not easy. We live in a world that has trained us to expect results if we just align all our efforts correctly. That if something’s not working then, “We’re doing it wrong.”

But sometimes life is such that we do all the right things and the right results just don’t come. This woman does not give up the first many times for such a lack of results. She keeps going.

I know there are individuals like this today - women and men who persist in their efforts for justice for themselves, their children, their loved ones. They seem to be fewer among those of us who are afforded most of the comforts of life. But to those who receive less, there is this kind of persistence.

This is strongly resonant with the forthcoming Christmas stories in scripture. Elizabeth, Mary, Anna…all people who pushed through in their difficult circumstances of old age or impoverished resources.

This is Advent’s work: to believe that God will act, and to live as though that belief is true. As Christmas draws near, we’ll surely be drawn to the incredible story of Christ’s first coming. And it is incredible, indeed. But let’s also persist in our faith that Christ is coming again.

Galatians 5:13-26

Luke 18:1-8

Jesus was telling them a parable about their need to pray continuously and not to be discouraged. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him, asking, ‘Give me justice in this case against my adversary.’ For a while he refused but finally said to himself, I don’t fear God or respect people, but I will give this widow justice because she keeps bothering me. Otherwise, there will be no end to her coming here and embarrassing me.” The Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Human One comes, will he find faithfulness on earth?”

Prayer

God,

Come with your Immanuel-ness. Ransom your people, particularly those mourning in the exile of their faith. Come with your wisdom from on high, lead us in the path of knowledge, showing and teaching us in its ways to go. Come, king of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all people. Tell our sad divisions to get out of here, that you yourself might be our King of Peace.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.

—

Below is a recording I arranged and played of the hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. It’s one of the most patient hymns I know. Written in a minor key, the hope present in it isn’t one of daisies and roses. Rather, it’s strong, persistent, and expectant. We sing it in the first days of Advent because it resonates with Israel’s long-standing waiting for the Messiah. And today, it’s a reminder that much of what we hope for in our faith are things not yet realized. The Kingdom is established in heaven. And it is also at hand, but yet we wait for full consummation. If you have a few minutes, I encourage you to listen, breathe, and wait with hope.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
(arranged & played by Jeremy D. Scott)