The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds;
it does not rest till it reaches its goal,
nor will it withdraw till the Most High responds,
judges justly and affirms the right,
and the Lord will not delay.

As we glance over the word of today’s readings and Gospel, we would be quick to think that God steps right up to help the poor, the widow, orphans, outcasts, the downtrodden, those in need.

We like to think of God as the loving Father, Who, as in the story of the Prodigal Son, pours out every mercy to those in need.

We even get a little upset, sometimes perturbed, sometimes downright angry with God, especially when those cries go unanswered.

We ask: How could a just and loving God, who promised to hear our prayers, be so downright cold?

Brothers and sisters,

We fail see our expectations in light of the fact that God requires something of us. His mercy is boundless, His generosity unfailing. Still, that generosity, that mercy, requires a response from us.

Listen carefully:

From Sirach:

The one who serves God willingly is heard;
his petition reaches the heavens.

From Psalm 34:

When the just cry out, the Lord hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.

…and:

The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.

The one who serves God willingly is heard, the Lord hears the cries of the just, and He redeems the lives of His servants.

The Father sent His only begotten Son to us to teach us.

He never taught: Do nothing and you shall inherit the earth. Rather He taught that those who live in accord with His teachings —“ which are from the Father, will be saved. He taught that those who pray and command in faith will have their prayers answered and their commands fulfilled.

Our expectation must be this: That God will hear and answer those who live by His teachings. He will answer us in accord with our faith.

Certainly, His arms are wide open, as with the Prodigal Son. But there is always the expectation, God’s expectation. What will your response be my child?

The Prodigal Son and the tax collector from today’s Gospel got it right.

[He] stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’

Both the Prodigal Son and the tax collector were in need. As you might recall, the Prodigal Son looked at his situation, hungry, homeless, feeding the pigs, and said:

—I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;
I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.”

Both stood off at a distance, certainly with expectation, but with something much greater than expectation, with faith.

My friends,

St. Paul, writing from prison after his trial said:

I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

The crown of righteousness is ours for the asking. The crown of righteousness awaits us. But, we must long for it. We must live up to it. We must seek it with faith, and with a life lived with that crown as our only goal.

All we do, all we ask, and all we seek will be judged in light of our desire to repent and to live rightly, justly, faithfully, as servants, in accord with the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Holy Church.

Seek…

and the Lord will not delay.