Exodus 17:8-13 / 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 / Luke 18:1-8
I wonder if we could still remember this person if I were to mention his name.
It was not that long ago when we heard of this person.
The name is Low Wei Jie. Can we still remember him?
Just about two months ago he was in the news.
We may not quite remember his name, but we will surely remember his story.
He was that 12 year-old schoolboy who followed the Youth Olympic flame torch relay.
The amazing thing was that he was dressed in an orange T-shirt, blue Bermudas and flip-flops.
Armed with a digital camera, he just wanted to take pictures of the Youth Olympic flame torch relay, as it weaved through Sengkang, Punggol and Hougang.
When he started off, it was bright and early.
As the relay began, he followed the torch, and he ran, and ran, and ran.
Over two and a half hours, he covered almost 15km, undeterred by a heavy downpour along the way.
At first, nobody paid attention to the boy in the orange T-shirt as he ran along, snapping pictures as the torchbearers handed the flame from one to the other.
His quest was not without problems though – his feet hurt because he was running with just flip flops.
And to his frustration and disappointment, the camera he borrowed from his parents got jammed because of the rain. But he still continued running along.
Although he didn’t plan to, he followed the torch relay to the end.
By that time, he had already caught the attention of the cameramen, the relay entourage, the officials, the traffic police officers, and of course, the reporters.
At the end of the relay, Low Wei Jie was a sort of a celebrity, a surprise star of the YOG, and words like “determination” and “perseverance” were used on him.
Well, that was Low Wei Jie and his amazing story.
Amazing because who would want to run for two and a half hours in the rain just to take pictures of a torch.
And when the camera had jammed, who would want to keep running to the end? What’s the point?
Amazing also because it was a 12 year-old boy, and there was nothing in it for him.
The good thing was that in the end, he got some recognition for it, besides also getting a brand new camera.
So in a way, we can say that Low Wei Jie got determination, he got perseverance.
But, would we say that he was persistant?
Maybe not. Because persistence may have an irritating and annoying tone to it.
Maybe that’s why Jesus used the word “persistence” in today’s gospel parable.
He used that word to describe the widow who kept seeking for justice from a judge who couldn’t be bothered about her.
But she persisted and persisted until the judge gave in to her, even though it took a long time.
Jesus said we also should pray with persistence.
And Jesus even made this promise. He promised that God will see that justice is done and done speedily.
Yet Jesus is not making a new promise.
In the Old Testament, God already promised to protect His people from danger and from their enemies.
In the first reading, Israel was attacked by the Amalekites.
So Moses prayed for God’s protection over their enemies.
As long as Moses raised his hands in prayer, Israel was winning the battle.
But when he let his arms drop due to tiredness, the Amalekites were winning.
Moses had to persist in prayer, and Aaron and Hur helped him by supporting his arms and even took a stone for him to sit on.
It looked funny and strange, but with 3 men holding up a staff, Israel managed to overcome the Amalekites.
But when it comes to persistence in prayer, nothing can ever sound so strange or funny.
To pray is difficult. To persist in prayer is even more difficult.
A short story to share with you. A woman was late for an important interview, and as she was rushing to catch the bus, she prayed: O God, let me not be late, let me not be late.
Just then she tripped and fell. Picking herself up and straightening her dress, she prayed: O God, let me not be late, let me not be late, but no need to push me ok, no need to push me!!! (she will be in time, won’t be late)
Well, I have come across Catholics who have devised many interesting as well as strange and funny ways to persist in praying for a need or an intention.
Some will have an hourly chime on their watches so that they will stop whatever they are doing and say a short prayer, like an Our Father or a Hail Mary.
Some will come for Mass everyday to pray for their need or intention, especially during this period of school exams.
Another interesting way that I have come across is synchronized prayer.
A group of people wants to pray for a particular need or intention.
But because they are all busy and cannot come together, they agreed upon a particular time of the day, usually at night, to pray together wherever they are.
They even SMS each other to remind each other of their prayer time.
So persistence in prayer also needs support, just as Moses was supported by Aaron and Hur, and even by a stone.
Let us keep faith in what Jesus had promised that God will see justice done and done speedily.
Let is also support each other in persisting in prayer.
If the 12 year-old Low Wei Jie could keep running just to take pictures of a torch, then all the more we should persist in our prayer to keep the flame of faith burning.
Our persistence will be rewarded. That is what Jesus promised us.
Jesus will persist in His promise. May we persist in our praying.