St. Francis de Sales, the gentle Bishop of Geneva, once made a surprising remark: “I have so much work to do today that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” At first glance, it sounds backwards. But to the Saint, it makes perfect sense. When our schedules are full, when demands are heavy, the first instinct is to cut back on prayer. Francis de Sales knew a profound truth: every battle in life is first fought, won, or lost in the spiritual realm. Without prayer, all our activity becomes restless energy. With prayer, even the heaviest burdens are carried with God’s strength.
That lesson connects directly with today’s readings. In the first reading, the Amalekites attacked the Israelites. The Amalekites belonged to a nomadic tribe that occupied the Sinai desert territory. The Israelites had just been set free from slavery in Egypt, and they were on their way to the Promised Land. But they had to pass through some other territories before reaching the Promised Land. The region occupied by the Amalekites was one of the first places on their route. The Israelites pleaded to pass through the land and possibly drink some water, having been exhausted from their journey. The Amalekites refused the request and went on to wage war against Israel.
Joshua leads the army into battle, but the decisive battle is not fought on the plain. It happens on the hill, where Moses raises his hands to God. Whenever his arms are lifted in prayer, Israel has the upper hand; whenever they fall, Amalek prevails. The first reading does not give us the details of the physical battle; it gives us the details of the spiritual battle on the hill and the result in the physical battle at the foot of the hill. The message is unmistakable: the visible struggle on the battlefield is determined by the invisible struggle on the hill.
The Fathers of the Church saw in this story a foreshadowing of Calvary. On Mount Calvary, the New Moses, Jesus Christ, would raise His hands, stretched out on the Cross. And by that act of surrender and intercession, the greatest enemy of all, sin and death, would be defeated. Victory is won not by human strength, but by the power of prayer joined to sacrifice.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “Prayer is the life of the new heart. It ought to animate us at every moment” (CCC 2697). And again: “Prayer and Christian life are inseparable” (CCC 2745). If we do not pray, we cut ourselves off from the source of victory. But when we pray, we are united to Christ, who has already conquered.
The Gospel drives this point home with the parable of the persistent widow. She has no influence, no wealth, no power, only persistence. Day after day, she comes to the unjust judge until finally he gives her justice. Jesus uses her example to say: if even an unjust judge responds to persistence, how much more will our loving Father respond to His children? Prayer is not about nagging God into submission; it is about aligning our hearts with His and persevering until His will is revealed.
But here’s the challenge: prayer is often a battle itself. Like Moses, we grow weary. Like the widow, we are tempted to give up. That is why we need the support of the community. Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms; in the same way, the Church, the saints, and our brothers and sisters in faith sustain us when our own strength fails. This is why praying as a family, being part of a parish, joining prayer groups, or even simply asking others to pray for us is so vital. No Christian wins the battle alone.
We see this truth in the life of St. Monica. Her “Amalekite” was her son Augustine, who abandoned the faith and pursued a life of indulgence. For nearly twenty years, Monica prayed and wept for his conversion. Many told her to give up, but she persisted. St. Ambrose reassured her: “It is not possible that the child of so many tears should perish.” In time, Augustine was converted, baptized, became a bishop, and is now one of the greatest Doctors of the Church. She did not win her victory by arguments, but on the hill of prayer.
My friends, what are the Amalekites in your life? It may be illness, family discord, financial hardship, addiction, loneliness, or doubts of faith. Whatever battles you are facing, remember this: they are not decided first on the ground, but on the hill. The Psalm today reminds us: “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
So let us learn the following lessons from Moses, from the persistent widow, from Monica, and from the saints:
- When life is busiest, give more time to prayer.
- When prayer feels heavy, lean on the prayers of others.
- When answers seem delayed, persist with trust, for God never abandons His children.
The battle is the Lord’s. The victory is His. And prayer is how we share in it.
Homily for 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C 2025
Add comment