Jesus urges people to remain faithful in prayer and life. I like this one about a widow.

“There was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that same town who kept coming to him and pleading for her rights, saying “Help me against my opponent.” For a long time the judge refused to act, but at last he said to himself ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect man, yet because of all this trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don’t, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out.”

Jesus continued ‘Now will God not judge in favour of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them?’

Jesus also visits the hated Zacchaeus, and attracts more gossip from the Pharisees for associating with sinners.

But Zacchaeus, a taxcollector who has been robbing the people, is overjoyed, and vows to pay back four times as much as he took.

“Salvation has come this house today,” says Jesus, “The Son of Man has come to seek what has been lost.”

Dear Father God, Please help me to follow Your paths, and teach my children about You. Thank You for everything You give me. Please help me to use it well, like the wise stewards in the parable, to Your glory. Please continue to feed my hope, my faith, my love and my joy. In Jesus’ name, Amen