雖然「真福八端」指出「為義而受迫害的人是有福的」，因為天主應許他們得到天國！（瑪5:10）可是，對於長期遭受無理迫害的人，有甚麼東西可以支持他們，堅持到底呢？當他們「日夜呼籲天主」替他們伸冤（路18:7），可是直到死的一天，仍然不得平反；迫害他們的人，反而升官發財！天主的諾言落空了嗎？難道義人要等到末日在天上，纔可以領受到應得的安慰嗎？
這個比喻，可以給我們安慰嗎？一個天不怕，地不怕的判官；既不敬畏天主，也不敬重人（18:2），他會因為寡婦不斷糾纏而為她出頭嗎？當然不會。他不是一而再，再而三，「多時不肯」（18:4）為她出頭嗎？何況，在福音的其他地方，耶穌不是教訓過，祈禱不用多言，因為天父在我們祈禱之前，已經知道我們需要甚麼嗎（瑪6:7-8）？既然求天主之前，祂已經知道我們的需要，知道我們正遭受迫害，祈禱又有甚麼作用呢？不斷祈禱有甚麼益處呢？
其實，判官肯為寡婦出頭，一方面是因為寡婦鍥而不捨的毅力，與判官建立了一份良好的私人關係！另一方面，寡婦不斷地糾纏判官，是因為她再沒有別的方法了，難道她可以賄賂判官嗎？可以做的，她已做了。雖然結果未必如願，但她問心無愧了，內心平安了。
這個「不義判官和寡婦」的比喻，告訴我們，判官是因為一份人與人之間的關係，對寡婦多了一份關懷，所以願意替她出頭；而寡婦亦在糾纏的過程中，獲得心安理得。祈禱，就是與天主建立關係的途徑，而祈禱本身就是一份安慰，一份平安。在遭受無理迫害的過程中，祈禱就是安慰我們、支持我們不要灰心的良藥。能經歷長時間消磨壯志，而能堅持到底的人，纔是有福的！（谷13:13）
Prayers Sustain Us Till the End (Luke 18:1-8)
Although the Beatitudes point out that "Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness" because God promises them the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:10), what can support those who suffer unreasonable persecutions for a long time to persevere till the end? While the causes of these "chosen ones call out to Him day and night" (Luke 18:7) are not rectified even after their death and those persecutors are elevated, does God's promise come to null? Shall the righteous receive their consolation only at the end of the world?
Can this parable give us some consolation? Here is a dishonest judge who neither feared God nor respected any human being (18:2). Would he render a favourable decision for this widow because of her persistence? Of course not! Wasn't he for a long time unwilling? (18:4) Moreover, elsewhere in other gospels, doesn't Jesus teach that we should not be wordy in our prayers because our Father knows our needs even before we pray (Matthew 6:7-8)? Well, since God already knows our needs before we pray and knows that we are suffering persecution, what is the point of prayers? What benefits can persistent prayers bring?
Indeed, the judge decided to help the widow because on one hand, out of her persistence, the widow had built up a good relationship with the judge! On the other hand, the widow persisted because there was no other option. Could she bribe the judge? If she could, she would have done so. Although the outcome might not be favourable, she had no regret. Her heart was peaceful.
This parable tells us that the dishonest judge decided in favour for the widow because of a personal relationship. He cared about the widow. In the process of persistent bothering, the widow obtained a peaceful mind. Prayer is a way to build up relationship with God and prayer itself is a consolation and a peace. In the process of unreasonable persecutions, prayer is an antidote which consoles us and supports us not to lose heart. "But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved." (Mark 13:13)
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