October 12, 2023 Luke 11, 5-13

October 12, 2023 Happy Thursday to everyone out there! Today's reading is from the book of Luke, chapter 11, verse 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?"

Last reading was all about how to pray, what to say during prayer and I broke down my interpretation of each line. This reading is all about the persistence of prayer. We read the example of the friend in need of a loaf of bread, he pleads late at night and while at first his friend doesn't want to open the doors for him and give him the bread, with enough knocking and persistence he will eventually open the door and aid his friend. In the second paragraph Jesus talks about how those who ask will receive, those who seek will find, those who knock will have doors open to them. The key to finding the meaning of this reading is referring back to the first paragraph. You need to be persistent about it. If you ask God for something he will prevail. If you search for him, you will find him. But you need to be persistent about it. The doors will not open on the first knock, It may seem helpless to continue but Jesus is telling us to keep trying. God is always hearing your prayers, and with every knock your prayers have a greater weight to them. We need to remember that when we ask for something God will deliver, not at our time, but whenever he seems fit. Keep praying to God, it could be a couple weeks, months, or even years, but God will answer your prayers at his time. Have a blessed evening everyone.