8th October. Thursday of Week 27

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1st Reading: Malachiah 3:13-18

Religion seems to brings no benefit. Yet on the day of the Lord all will be revealed

You have spoken harsh words against me, says the Lord. Yet you say, “How have we spoken against you?” You have said, “It is vain to serve God. What do we profit by keeping his command or by going about as mourners before the Lord of hosts? Now we count the arrogant happy; evildoers not only prosper, but when they put God to the test they escape.”

Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the Lord and thought on his name. They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them. Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

Gospel: Luke 11:5-13

Persevere in prayer, confident of the Father’s love to all who ask it

Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 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!”

bible

The Power of Perseverance

Perseverance is based on the assurance that we already possess what we seek. Luke brings our discussion much closer to earth by citing a more secular word, “persistence.” While “perseverance” connotes the way to heaven, “persistence” almost has an unappropriate taste of stubbornness about it. Such indeed is the tone and attitude of Jesus’ short parable.

The social law of that country and culture demands an open door even to someone who comes, in the middle of the night. But we do not bang on the door of a neighbour in the middle of the night in order to obtain some bread. Jesus is not arguing what is right or wrong. The point of a parable is kept for the last line. The neighbour obliges, not because of friendship but because of the other person’s persistence, and then gives as much as he needs.

Perseverance and persistence carry a note of annoyance and trouble, but most of all require an enduring faith that hopes will not be frustrated. A bond between the neighbours is being deepened beyond the laws of friendship. A new sense of admiration can ensue, once the shock of midnight banging and family disturbance levels off. Jesus takes the parable further by appealing to parents’ care and attention towards their children. Does a mother give a snake when a child asks for fish? He acknowledges the basic goodness and fidelity of every human being, yet he also wants our relationships to deepen and become still more reliable:, with God’s help. If you, with all your sins, know how to give your children good things, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. God gives part of himself, his own Holy Spirit so that our own good actions manifest his divine goodness and reach beyond our dreams and expectations.

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God’s hospitality

In the Middle Eastern culture of Jesus’ time hospitality was a sacred duty; indeed, it still is in that part of the world today. It is inconceivable that someone in desperate need who knocks on the door of a friend would be refused hospitality, even if it was in the middle of the night. Jesus is saying, “if that is how hospitable you are, think of how hospitable God is.” If you are prepared to get up in the middle of the night when a friend knocks on your door, then you should never be slow to knock on God’s door because God is an even more wonderful friend to you. Jesus encourages us in that gospel reading, to knock on God’s door, to seek out God, to petition God. It is a ringing endorsement of the prayer of petition. What are we to ask God for? To put that question another way, “What does God want to give us?” At the end of that gospel reading Jesus declares that what God wants to give us is the Holy Spirit. “How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” God wants to give us what we most need, and what we most need is the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who empowers us to take the path God wants us to take, the path that leads to fullness of life for ourselves and for others, here and now and in eternity. Jesus insists that if we keep on asking God for that gift of the Spirit we won’t find God wanting. [Martin Hogan]

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