Readings: Exodus 17:8-13; Psalm 121; 2 Timothy 3:14–4:2; Luke 18:1–8
Grace, mercy and peace to you, my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord. Today is the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.
We have very rich and inspiring readings today, and it is difficult to express all their messages in just a few words.
The First Reading tells us about the first military conflict of the Israelites. They had just escaped from slavery in Egypt; God parted the sea for them, they endured hardship in the wilderness, yet God fed them with food and drink. But the struggle continued, for now, they had to fight a war they did not prepare for. The Amalekites, a nomadic warlike tribe, attacked them from behind.
This homily is for someone today whose life seems to move from one problem to another – perhaps you are fighting a battle you did not prepare for, opposed by some Amalekites in your life.
A brief word about the Amalekites: in Genesis 36:12, Amalek is introduced as,
“Timna was a concubine of Esau’s son Eliphaz; she bore Amalek to Eliphaz.”
So, the Amalekites are from Amalek, the grandson of Esau. The name Amalek comes from the Hebrew root ‘amal’ (עָמַל), meaning to toil, labour, suffer, or bring trouble. Thus Amalek could mean “one who labours,” “troublemaker,” “wearisome,” or “people who cause suffering.” This fits well with their role in Scripture as the people who continually troubled and oppressed Israel.
From the battle in today’s reading, we have much to learn. Let’s keep it simple. Moses was on the hilltop with raised hands, while Joshua was on the battlefield. As long as Moses’ hands were raised, Israel prevailed. When Moses grew weary, Aaron and Hur supported his hands until Israel won the battle.
Again, there is a lot for us here.
Raised hands signify prayer (Psalm 63:4; Psalm 141:2; Lamentations 3:41; 1 Timothy 2:8). Moses’ lifted hands indicated supplication and intercession. The success of the battle in the field did not depend on the strength of the soldiers alone but on the hands lifted in prayer on the hilltop. As long as those hands were raised, victory was assured.
This is a message for some of us who focus only on the battlefield, on our strength, plans, investments, actions and efforts, while neglecting the hilltop of prayer. Action without prayer is pride and futility. Likewise, prayer without obedient action is passivity.
Now, let us connect the First Reading with the Gospel.
The summary of today’s Gospel is that we should pray and never give up. Again, this word is for someone who is praying but getting tired. You have been praying for so long, and it seems the battle is never-ending.
Perhaps you have been praying for the conversion or restoration of a family member to the faith. Maybe you have been praying that God may touch, deliver or save your child, parent or friend. Maybe you have been praying for a favour for yourself or someone dear to you. Perhaps you have been praying to overcome a sinful habit or addiction. Have you been praying for something to change in your family or marriage, for the healing of someone dear to you or even your own healing? Perhaps you have been praying for justice, peace and an end to evil in your community, state, nation or in the world.
The Lord says, “Do not get tired of praying, your prayers are not wasted or in vain.”
When the time is right, He will do it (Isaiah 60:22) in His own way. Is that a message for you?
When your raised hands are getting weak, ask for the support of others in prayer. Ask the saints in heaven to also lift your hands. Do not grow weak, do not drop those lifted hands.
Let us also remember that we are called to share in the ministry of Aaron and Hur, to lift people up, to lift their hands, to encourage and support those who are weak and tired. This is also the ministry of the people of God, to lift the hands of our sacred ministers (Moses) up, to encourage and not oppose, compete, confuse, or weaken their zeal.
Finally, Jesus ended with two messages in today’s Gospel – one is an encouragement and the other is a call to reflection.
I. “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.”
This is for those of us crying for justice because we have been unfairly treated, cheated, or falsely accused. This is for those of us crying for justice and peace in our world, where evil, hatred, corruption, injustice, wickedness, persecution of Christians, hunger and darkness seem to prevail. Jesus says to us today, justice shall be served. Our cry for justice is not in vain. God hears and He will act, just as He acted and saved the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt and from the Amalekites today.
II. “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
This is very deep and calls for sober reflection. Here, Jesus is saying that many people will lose heart and stop trusting in God. Many who were once fervent will lose their faith in God. Many will deny His existence in the face of evil, injustice and darkness in the world. When Jesus comes again, will you or I be found among those who remain faithful despite the struggles, challenges and the seeming silence of God? Will I still be keeping faith?
At another level, “Will I find faith on earth?” is not just about whether people will still practice religion or go to Church. It means, will I find people who truly believe in me, trust in me, hold on to my Word, and live according to the truth, not popular opinion, not the world’s version of truth, not the new doctrine of permissiveness, not the redefined Gospel and modern creed, but the eternal truth about the human person, about marriage, about the sanctity of life, the dignity of the human person and about the eternal destiny of our souls and salvation.
This is the message of St. Paul to Timothy in today’s Second Reading: to remain faithful to the truth which is divine, wise and able to bring salvation, and to preach this same truth with consistency, no matter how unpopular it becomes.
Dear friends, let us end here by asking ourselves again: when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth? Shall I be among those who remain faithful to the truth and live by it?
Sermon preached by Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on October 19. 2025