Luke 18:1-8
1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.
2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ 4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
"Fear God and respect everyone"
Within the context of Jesus’ teaching about His second coming, He gave us this parable of an unjust judge. Let us reflect upon the main inspirations this parable contains — justice, fear of God, and prayer.
Justice is first and foremost a reciprocated love and respect for God, one another and natural creation. God's nature combines Justice and Mercy, which seem incompatible in our earthly concepts.
Fear has many meanings—
First, the feeling of terror in frightening situations. "This day I will begin to put the terror and fear of you on all the nations... they will tremble and be in anguish because of you" Deuteronomy 2:25.
Second, awareness and reverence in the presence of greatness or ultimate dignity.
Third, recognizing who God is, not your own created God, but He who created you and all of creation. He is almighty, loving, ever-present, just and merciful. His true being remains beyond our human capacity of understanding.
Fearing God creates knowledge, but even more and better, it is the foundation and summit of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.“
A friendly, respectful and trusting connection with God forms a filial identity that our loving Father grants to those who fear His Presence, and keeps alive their permanent relation with Him through prayer.
Godly wisdom inspires our orientations and decisions in life. We can be motivated by fear of earthly weakness, such as fear of our future, poverty, financial needs, sickness, epidemics, loneliness, needs of friends or family, or we can make our decisions based only upon fearing God, fortified by full trust in His presence and loving grace.
The contentment He bestows and our commitment to respond to His presence may never be obtained without daily prayers. Prayers bring us back to the Lord, to ourselves, to our neighbor and to natural creation.
May we learn from this parable how to keep our trust in God, and to base our personal acts and relations with others upon God's justice and His command to respect every one we meet. Let us pray to be among those who would keep faith until He comes again!