I’m feeling a lot like the persistent widow today. How are your feeling?

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: โ€œIn a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, โ€˜Grant me justice against my adversary.โ€™

4โ€œFor some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, โ€˜Even though I donโ€™t fear God or care what people think, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she wonโ€™t eventually come and attack me!โ€™โ€ฏโ€

6And the Lord said, โ€œListen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?โ€

The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10โ€œTwo men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: โ€˜God, I thank you that I am not like other peopleโ€”robbers, evildoers, adulterersโ€”or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.โ€™

13โ€œBut the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, โ€˜God, have mercy on me, a sinner.โ€™

14โ€œI tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.โ€

The Little Children and Jesus

15People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16But Jesus called the children to him and said, โ€œLet the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.โ€

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

18A certain ruler asked him, โ€œGood teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?โ€

19โ€œWhy do you call me good?โ€ Jesus answered. โ€œNo one is goodโ€”except God alone.20You know the commandments: โ€˜You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.โ€™ a โ€

21โ€œAll these I have kept since I was a boy,โ€ he said.

22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, โ€œYou still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.โ€

23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24Jesus looked at him and said, โ€œHow hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.โ€

26Those who heard this asked, โ€œWho then can be saved?โ€

27Jesus replied, โ€œWhat is impossible with man is possible with God.โ€

28Peter said to him, โ€œWe have left all we had to follow you!โ€

29โ€œTruly I tell you,โ€ Jesus said to them, โ€œno one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.โ€

Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time

31Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, โ€œWe are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; 33they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.โ€

34The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight

35As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37They told him, โ€œJesus of Nazareth is passing by.โ€

38He called out, โ€œJesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!โ€

39Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, โ€œSon of David, have mercy on me!โ€

40Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41โ€œWhat do you want me to do for you?โ€

โ€œLord, I want to see,โ€ he replied.

42Jesus said to him, โ€œReceive your sight; your faith has healed you.โ€ 43Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.


Footnotes:
a 20 Exodusโ€ฏ20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20

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