Persistence and Prayer

Good morning! Be sure to READ and/or LISTEN to our Mass readings for the day.

In our Gospel today Jesus expands on the discussion he started in our reading from yesterday regarding prayer. 

He begins with a parable with a friend show up at midnight asking for bread for travelers who showed up unexpectedly. The friend doesn't want to get up and get the bread because he has already locked up and his family is all already in bed. 

The friend isn't going to quit on asking us because the custom of the time is to provide late night travelers with a meal regardless of the time and if they are hungry. Bread would always be served with the meal, so it is important that the friend find bread. 

Hospitality was something that was much more important than it is today. The entire community would would help the guests feel at home and would help entertain them. Not providing bread would bring dishonor to you if you refused it and it wouldn't be acting as a good friend at all.

Jesus closes that part of the story letting us know that the man in the house would have probably gotten the bread, but not out of friendship or hospitality, but basically because it would be easier than listening to the man keep asking!

How often do you see people warn down by persistence? I remember hosting a party for a co-worker before I was married. I didn't care about the product she was selling and we weren't even friends, but I did it anyway because I was sick of her asking me over and over again!

Jesus point in this story isn't that prayer is about pestering God to get what we want, but wants us to imagine what the God of the universe, who loves us, would do for us if we simply ask Him! If one man can get bread from another who is already in bed and doesn't want to get up, how much more would God be willing to do? 

He concludes asking "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?”

Jesus point is that if a Father on earth will give their child what is asked for, how much better are the gifts God will give us?

“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."

Luke 11:9-11 (NABRE)

Have you really sought God? Have you truly looked for Him and called upon Him with expectant faith? Maybe it's time to show up (even in the middle of the night), like that friend searching for bread, and know God will hear our call and will answer our prayer!