October 9, 2014

Luke 11: 5-13  

Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.  “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” 

Reflection: 

I remember many occasions when my children were much younger, they would go to the store with me and absolutely HAD to have something. I also recall many nights trying to get them to go to sleep. It was a battle of whose will was stronger, whose persistence would win out.  

We are called in this Gospel passage to be like that strong-willed child, to be persistent and not stop with our prayers to God.  Jesus uses the parable of a man going to his friend at midnight to teach us to be persistent in our prayers to God, to never give up. What we don't see in this Gospel is that right before this, one of the disciples had asked Jesus how to pray.  Jesus responded by giving the disciples and us the Lord's Prayer.  Jesus knew the importance of prayer. He teaches us to be bold and tireless in our prayers to God. To be shameless.  To never stop praying.  We should not stop because we have already prayed for something before, or when we feel that God has not yet answered our prayer.  God will answer our prayers in the  way and time that He knows is best for us. 

Prayer: 

Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks will receive. He who searches will find. And the door will be opened to the one who knocks.”