HOMILY WEEK 32 06 – Year II
On Faith and Caring – Adapted from The Word Among Us:
Optional Memorial of St. Margaret of Scotland
(3 Jn 5-8; Ps 112; Lk 18:1-8)
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“Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?”
The widow in the gospel was desperate. So, day after day, she stood before this dishonest judge and pled her case. Despite the judge’s indifference, she did not give up. Instead, her pleas likely became more intense and frequent until he finally gave her a just settlement.
Now we know that God is not like the unjust judge when we come to God in intercessory prayer. Instead, God’s ears are open, and God is always ready to listen to us. Still, we need to be like that widow, persevering as we intercede to God, calling out to God, day and night. This “calling out” is much more than a casual hello or a quick request. It is rooted in a deep need to be heard. And that means not giving up.
So why does it seem that God delays in answering us sometimes? Because as we persist in pouring out our needs to God, we are receiving blessings that go beyond the solution to a problem or the removing of an obstacle. We develop a deeper relationship with God and become more like God. We take on God’s heart and God’s perspective. And that is the most important thing that can happen!
This is especially true if we don’t perceive a solution right away or if it feels as if God is not answering our prayers. The more we persevere, the more opportunity we have to offer God not only our needs but our fears, desires and hopes. We become more eager to invite God into our heart and ask God to strengthen us.
That’s the mysterious reward of intercession. It goes beyond getting the answer we expect from our prayers. God secures our “rights” to God’s wisdom, God’s peace, God’s love and God’s character. We develop an ever-deepening relationship with the One who gives all good gifts, most of all, the Holy Spirit, the best of all gifts.
The optional memorial for today is for St. Margaret of Scotland, who in her own way lived out these readings. Margaret, born in Hungary about 1045, was the daughter of Eadward Athling, heir apparent to the English throne, and Princess Agatha of Hungary. At about the age of 10, she returned to England with her family but was forced back into exile after the Norman Conquest in 1066. In 1070, Margaret married Malcolm Canmore, King of Scotland. Of their eight children, three sons ruled Scotland in succession and their daughter Maud married Henry I of England. Margaret greatly influenced King Malcolm III.
To her husband and his country, she brought the best of European culture and encouraged many by her life of Christian virtue. She worked for justice and improved conditions for the poor, guided the Celtic church toward strong ties with Rome, rebuilt churches, and brought the Benedictines to Scotland. In 1093 her husband and one son were killed in battle. Already on her deathbed, she died four days later. Margaret was a model of motherhood, one of the few canonized saints to have reared a large family. She was canonized in 1251 and in 1673 was named patron saint of Scotland.
The Eucharist is an act of faith in God’s love for us in Jesus. May our celebration empower us to live out the Eucharist by expressing our faith in Christ through loving, selfless service, especially to the poor among us.
