GOSPEL READING:
Luke 11:5-135 And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within, `Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Meditation: What can we expect from God, especially when
we recognize that he doesn't owe us anything and that we don't
deserve his grace and favor? Jesus used the illustration of a
late-night traveler to teach his listeners an important lesson
about how God treats us in contrast to the kind of treatment we
might expect from our neighbors.
The rule of hospitality in biblical times required the
cooperation of the entire community in entertaining an unexpected
or late-night guest. Whether the guest was hungry or not, a meal
would be served. In a small village it would be easy to know who
had baked bread that day. Bread was essential for a meal because
it served as a utensil for dipping and eating from the common
dishes. Asking for bread from one's neighbor was both a common
occurrence and an expected favor. To refuse to give bread would
bring shame and dishonor because it was a sign of in-hospitality -
showing a lack of friendship and generosity.
God awakens us from sleep that we may ask and receive
If a neighbor can be imposed upon and coerced into giving bread in
the middle of the night, how much more hospitable is God, who, no
matter what the circumstances, is generous and ready to give us
what we need. Augustine of Hippo reminds us that "God, who does
not sleep and who awakens us from sleep that we may ask, gives
much more graciously."
Ask, seek, knock - and it will be given
When you are in need who do you turn to for help? Jesus tells us
that God is always ready to answer those who seek him and call
upon him with expectant trust in his mercy and kindness. Jesus
states very clearly and simply what we must do: Ask, seek,
knock. God our heavenly Father waits upon us. Like a table
waiter or friend who comes in the middle of the night, he is
always ready to hear our plea and to give us what we need. Do you
ask the Father with expectant faith and confident trust in his
goodness? Do you seek his guidance and help in your time of need?
Do you knock with persistence at his door of mercy and favor? If
we treat our heavenly Father with indifference or neglect to ask
with confident trust, we may miss the opportunity we have been
given to receive his grace and favor and merciful help.
God gives more than we can ask or expect
In conclusion Jesus makes a startling claim: How much more
will the heavenly Father give! The Lord is ever ready to
give us not only what we need, but more than we can expect. He
gives freely of his Holy Spirit that we may share in his abundant
life and joy. Do you approach your heavenly Father with confident
trust in his mercy and kindness?
Heavenly Father, you are merciful, gracious and kind. May I never doubt your mercy and love nor hesitate to seek you with confident trust in order to obtain the gifts, graces, and daily provision I need to live as your beloved child and constant friend.
Psalm 1:1-6
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Ask by praying, seek by proper living, knock by persevering, by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.
"Desiring that we arrive at the joys of the heavenly kingdom, our Lord and Savior taught us to ask these joys of him and promised that he would give them to us if we asked for them. 'Ask,' he said, 'and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.' Dearly beloved..., we earnestly and with our whole heart must ponder these words of our Lord. He bears witness that the kingdom of heaven is not given to, found by and opened to those who are idle and unoccupied but to those who ask for it, seek after it and knock at its gates. The gate of the kingdom must be asked for by praying. It must be sought after by living properly. It must be knocked at by persevering." (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 2.51.20)
