A reading from the gospel according to Luke 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples:
5 “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
6 for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’
7 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.’
8 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.
9 “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?
12 Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
13 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: Persistence in Prayer

Good News: If you ask, you will receive.

In the gospel reading above, Jesus teaches us the importance of persistence in prayer. It has the same message with the story of the Widow and the Unjust Judge in Luke 18:1-8. It is also similar with the teaching of Saint Paul that we ought to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

God is our loving father. At all times God is good and He knows our needs before we even tell Him. He gives our daily bread. Yet it is His will that we are in constant communication with Him. It is not necessary that we lock ourselves in a room and pray for long hours but it is possible to keep on praying while at work or at play. We just have to fill our mind with thoughts of God. It takes a lot of practice to do that.

When we are persistent in our prayer, we have the tendency to know more about God and about ourselves. In other words, we acquire additional knowledge and wisdom. We know better what to pray for. Moreover, we become more patient and more humble.

God answers all prayers. When we don’t receive what we pray for, that is already the answer. It means what we are praying for is not in accordance with His will. When the answer to our prayer is delayed, that is also the answer. God’s timing is always the best so we need to learn how to be patient. Let us trust Him to grant anything that we ask for because He is our mighty and loving father. Above all, let us continually seek His will for us and His righteousness and all the things that we need will be provided.