Gospel: 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?”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Mass intention is for Patricia & Michael K’s Intentions.
Reflection:
After teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus tells them to persevere in prayer like that person who goes to his friend at midnight to ask for three loaves of bread. The Lord assured them, “For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” The Bible features several people who kept on praying despite the many trials they faced: Abraham and Sarah, as well as Zechariah and Elizabeth longed for a child. Their prayers were answered, not in their own terms, but in God’s. We too have undergone a similar experience like these couples. Our prayers seemed unanswered and we are tempted to give up. If God does not grant us our request right now, let us not lose heart. Perhaps it is not yet the right time to grant it. Surely, God has a better plan for us. He will give us the Holy Spirit. What else can we ask for? St Augustine, whose conversion was the fruit of his mother’s persistent prayer, once wrote “The desire is your prayers; and if your desire is without ceasing, your prayer will also be without ceasing. The continuance of your longing is the continuance of your prayer.”
- How persistent are you in praying?
- How do you react when God seems to be saying “No” to your prayers?
- During these uncertain times, how do you encourage those who despair to keep on praying?
Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Word today. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that with a lively hope we may persevere in prayer. Amen.
Sincerely,
Pietro
