Fathers Day and Prayerful Persistence

It is fitting that, on Father's Day, when we celebrate all our biological, adoptive, stand-in, waiting, distant, and even departed fathers, and even fathers in the faith,  that we look at the parable in Luke 18:1-8 is a study in contrasts. There is an unjust judge who is not at all like our just and holy Heavenly Father. And there is a widow who does not have any of the judge's position and power. Jesus told this parable so that his disciples would always pray and not lose heart because God will give justice to his chosen ones. And, while we may, at times, think it pointless to pray, because, much like the judge in the story, we neither view God nor people rightly, Jesus 1) makes a statement about God and justice, and 2) asks a question about faith in us.