Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Luke 18:1

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

He who hath redeemed thee, hath shown thee what He would have thee do. He would have thee be instant in prayer, He would have thee ponder in thy heart the blessings thou art praying for, He would have thee ask and receive what His goodness is longing to impart. He never refuses His blessings to them that pray, but rather stirs men up by His mercy not to faint in praying. Gladly accept the Lord's encouragement: be willing to do what He commands, not to do what He forbids. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

Or else; Whenever men inflict injury upon us, we must then think it a noble thing to be forgetful of the evil; but when they offend against the glory of God by taking up arms against the ministers of God's ordinance, we then approach God imploring His help, and loudly rebuking them who impugn His glory.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

All this, he says, is to happen to the people of that time, but against this, prayer provides great help, which we must constantly and with patience offer, keeping in mind how the persistence of the widow swayed the unjust judge. For if constant entreaty softened him, who was full of all manner of wickedness and ashamed neither before God nor before men, how much more shall we not incline to mercy the Father of compassions, God, even though He delays for the present? …

Commentary on Luke ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

Our Lord utters His parables, either for the sake of the comparison, as in the instance of the creditor, who when forgiving his two debtors all that they owed him was most loved by him who owed him most; or on account of the contrast, from which he draws his conclusion; as, for example, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith. So also here when he brings forward the case of the unjust judge.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Bede

He also told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. The Apostle also says: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing." But who can always pray like this, and persist in prayer without failing or pausing, so that he neither has time for receiving food or for sleeping? …

On the Gospel of Luke ↗

Bonaventure

On the persuasion to devotion, two things are presented. And he spoke also a parable to them etc. After the refutation of Jewish curiosity in scrutinizing future things, there follows here the persuasion to devotion in requesting divine assistance. …

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 18 ↗