Readings: Ex 17:8-13; Psalm 121: 1-8; Luke 18:1-8

Despite having experienced what Shakespeare described as the ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’, our egos can delude us into thinking we control our own destiny: ‘I am the master of my fate’. Even more, that we are ‘less’ or ‘weak’ if we need anyone else. 

Today’s readings remind us otherwise. In the first reading, so long as the hands of Moses which hold the staff of God are raised, Israel had the better of the fight. The point is emphasised in the responsorial pslam: ‘our help is from the Lord’. 

Yet there is so much money to be made by reinforcing the ‘control’ worldview – and people buy into it, literally. Which is why fear is ‘sold’ so easily since its origin is a lack of control. Media and politicians have a field day trying to wield fear. Thus we each need to have faith in God – that God will provide. But this is not ‘magic’ that falls from the sky. When we build relationships, when we build community – in families or elsewhere – we look out for each other, we help each other. This love that we share in community is God. And so we can proclaim that ‘our help is from the Lord’. 

However we can each be guilty of lack of trust in others or be guilty of selfishness. This can be a daily struggle. Something we work at. This raises the question from the Gospel: ‘when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?’ Rather than despair because of our frailty, better to embrace the wisdom: ‘one day at a time’.