Fore-feast of the Encounter; the Holy Martyr Tryphon (249-51)
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2 Timothy 2:11-19; Luke 18:2-8
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
I know a man who told me this story. When he was young, his parents had a great difficulty in their marriage. So great was this difficulty that the father moved out of the house and it looked like there was going to be a divorce. His mother was devastated often crying for hours upon hours. He would awaken some hours after going to bed hearing the prayers of his mother—she asked for forgiveness and for healing. He remembers that he missed his father dearly and offered, too, silent prayers like his mother. One day, after supper, his mother told him and his siblings that they were going to ask the Mother of God for her prayers that the family would be whole again. Every evening, right after supper, before the dishes were done, they lit a candle on the dining room table, kneeled and prayed a decade of the rosary with the specific intention of the father returning home. These broken family members continued for some time. Because some time had passed and it seemed that nothing was going as they had prayed, the man doubted if the Mother of God was actually praying on their behalf and if God was actually listening.
Then one late fall morning, with the sunlight bouncing brilliantly on the snow that had recently fallen, the doorbell rang disturbing this man and his siblings from Saturday morning cartoons. He went to answer the door. It was his father. He wanted to speak to his mother. They went upstairs to talk and he went back to watching television. Some hours later, his parents came downstairs and, with eyes still wet from many tears spilt between them, announced that his father would be moving back home. He was so elated and happy that he says he danced a type of jig right then and there. His father asked him to come with him to collect his belongings and bring them home.
The man concludes his story stating that while there was great joy that day (which happened to be the feast of the Conception of St. Anna – the day when the Mother of God was conceived in the womb), there was a long period of healing—years—that took place. And through it, his prayer never abated.
Brothers and Sisters, this real-life story exemplifies the parable we hear today. The lesson we must learn from this, a lesson that will take that mustard seed of faith and help it grow into a tree where the birds make their nests (See Mark 4:30-32) is this: Pray, pray constantly, with humility, trusting that the prayer will be answered. And when tempted that the Lord does not hear or does not care, double-down on that prayer. That time of waiting is for your own growth in faith.