From the pulpit
Persistence in prayer
Today's Gospel teaches us how to pray and reveals the ultimate response from the Lord regarding our prayers. It begins with one of the disciples asking, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). It is a very legitimate question because, by the end of this reading, we discover that the ultimate answer is the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
The Lord responds by teaching the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2–4). After that, He tells a story about a man whose friend arrives unexpectedly at midnight. Wanting to offer him hospitality but having nothing to give, he goes to his neighbour and asks for bread. Although it is after midnight and the neighbour initially protests, saying that his children are with him in bed, he eventually gives him everything he needs. Following this, the Lord gives a promise with continuous action: "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Luke 11:9).
After this, the Lord mentions the example of a father and son. When the son asks his father for something, the father gives him what is good. "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?" (Luke 11:11–12). Finally, in verse 13, the passage reaches its climax with the ultimate gift: the Holy Spirit.
When I first looked at the whole reading, it was difficult to connect all the parts. What was the point of the persistent neighbour, the instruction to ask, seek and knock, and then the promise of the Holy Spirit? Let's dig deeper.
The whole purpose of prayer is that God wants to have a deep relationship with us. He wants us to know Him. He wants to give us the Holy Spirit to dwell within us and to set us spiritually on fire. So how do we do that?
He gave us the script
We need to learn how to pray. The disciple did not ask how to perform miracles; he simply asked how to pray because he could see the connection between Jesus and the Father. Jesus responded with the Lord's Prayer, a prayer that we repeat constantly in our faith. There is good reason for that. The Gospel says that Jesus said, "When you pray, say…" (Luke 11:2), providing exact words and guidance for speaking to the Lord of the universe, Almighty God. He gave us the script.
When you are sick, you go to the doctor and follow the prescribed treatment. It is like travelling by train: if you want a reliable result, you follow the guided track, and every time it faithfully leads you to the destination for which you purchased your ticket. It does not suddenly veer off course and leave you at a different stop. We follow the proper path to arrive where we intended to go.
God instructs us to pray, "Our Father," and to dwell on every line. Hang on every word of the Lord's Prayer and stay on track. Repeat it even when it feels as though you might be saying it in vain, because it will lead you exactly where you need to go.
Bold persistence
Jesus also explains why we need to persevere in prayer, even when it feels as though our prayers are not being answered. In the Greek, the word used in Luke 11:8 carries the sense of bold persistence, audacity and shamelessness. This is the attitude we are encouraged to have in prayer. God is not like a grumpy neighbour who reluctantly gives us what we ask for. If we persevere faithfully, He will respond according to His goodness.
God then gives us an example of what we should ask for. He speaks of the relationship between a father and his son: if the son asks for bread, the father will not give him a stone; if he asks for a fish, the father will not give him a serpent; and if he asks for an egg, he will not hand him a scorpion (Luke 11:11–12). God, of course, gives the Bread of Life, not a stone. He gives nourishment and sustenance, not hardship and harm.
He also mentions fish, an ancient Christian symbol. One beautiful contemplation is that when we ask God for true sustenance, He does not deceive us or give us something harmful. If His child asks, God grants what is truly good. He gives us goodness according to His perfect will.
The greatest gift
The teaching reaches its climax when Jesus says that God will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13). While it is perfectly acceptable to ask for material needs, the greatest gift we should seek is God's own presence dwelling within us through the Holy Spirit. We pray because we desire a deep connection with the Lord.
There is another passage that always causes me to reflect deeply. In Matthew 7:21–23, Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven… Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name…?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you.'" These are people who performed mighty works, yet they lacked a genuine relationship with Him. Without that deep connection, we cannot truly know God or be known by Him.
Are we praying because we simply want something from God, or because we want God Himself?
An appointment with the King
This week, set aside dedicated time for prayer. Make it as intentional as the appointments you schedule with doctors, lawyers or specialists. Give it the seriousness and focus you would give to an important medical consultation. Stand before your icons, light a candle, and begin with the Lord's Prayer. Treat it as a focused appointment with the King of kings and Lord of lords. You will find that the time passes quickly, and you will discover comfort in His presence. Be uncompromising with that appointment. Commit to it.
Finally, remember the friend who knocked at midnight and do the same (Luke 11:5–8). Notice that he was asking on behalf of his guest, not merely for himself. God listens to such prayers. Make a prostration, place your prayer before the Lord even at midnight, and trust that He will respond. In time, you will truly see how God reveals His goodness.
Glory be to God. Amen.
