(James Tissot - "The Lord's Prayer")
"For everyone who asks receives . . ."
Luke 1-13
Trust is an important value that is essential in our human
relationships but often we are rightly cautious of what might seem “too good to
be true.” If it sounds “too good to be true,” as the saying goes, “it probably
is.”
For some people the same principle is applied in our spiritual
life. That is, belief in God as all
loving, merciful, and caring is probably just too good to be true. Some might even sadly go so far as to say
that imagining a God to be such is merely a psychological projection of our
deepest longing for better parents or a way to deal with the dysfunction of
life. Yet, our readings this Sunday
uncover the very nature of God to be one so present to us and attentive to our
life that we can turn to him in a very personal way. This God, as Jesus presented to us, is not
distant but up close and caring as a parent, a Father who loves his children and
assures us that our needs are heard.
But, let’s face it, and I include myself in this of course, we
question at times the value of prayer.
It is frustrating at times since either God seems to be deaf, distant,
uncaring, or aloof from our desires and requests in prayer. We logically question the value and its hard
at times to keep going when there seem to be no results.
However, this weekend’s readings offer us a different, more
assuring answer to that same question. We are offered both the example of
Abraham and three teachings of Jesus on prayer that give us confidence that God
is always, always good for his word.
What he promises, he fulfills for he alone can be trusted for all
things.
The conversation, plea-bargain really, between Abraham and God
in our first reading from Genesis, as they walk towards the infamous city of
Sodom, is I think delightful in its humanness. Abraham is certainly persistent
in his asking of God. God has threatened to destroy this city because of their
great sinfulness so Abraham steps in as an advocate for the good people who
remain in Sodom. He appeals to God’s
better characteristics of mercy and forgiveness. “Will
you sweep away the innocent with the guilty?” I love the complement Abraham
extends to God in this pursuit on behalf of the people: “Far be it from you to do such a thing . . .” Flattery will get you
more.
He begins to bargain on behalf of those innocent even if there
are only ten left in this enormous city.
How far will God’s mercy go? He
knows that God does not desire destruction but will honor goodness. Yet, unfortunately, we know the ultimate end
of this story is that Sodom was apparently so totally corrupt that it was
destroyed. Yet, it teaches us that God
is at heart, mercy and forgiveness; That he does hear our pleas and will
respond, an important lesson on prayer.
Jesus’ Gospel stories of the traveler in need who knocks on the
door in the middle of the night for some bread is similar, yet different in a
way. It seems that the traveler is persistent as Abraham in his requests for
bread, albeit in the middle of the night.
To understand this best is to understand Middle Eastern culture and the
requirement for honor keeping.
In ancient times the mark of each town would be the measure of
its hospitality. It was expected, in
fact required that food be given to travelers who arrive. It was a matter of honor to be marked as a
town of welcome and hospitality so there is a reputation to uphold here. The traveler is aware of this expectation so
his request is not unheard of; he expects to receive and he does in the end: “he will give him whatever he needs” if
to save face with others let alone any particular friendship.
The lesson seems to be more the assurance of
the traveler that his request will be answered, persistent or not. It reveals to us the nature of God himself – “Ask and you will receive; seek and you
will find; knock and the door will be
opened.” In other words, we can be
assured that our prayer (request) our “daily bread” as we hear in the lesson on
the “Lord’s” prayer, will be heard and answered. God promises and it will be done. So, in this
case, think assurance rather than persistence as a lesson. Be assured that if we come to God in prayer,
that prayer will be heard and answered in a way God sees fit.
Still, we become frustrated in prayer. We become disappointed
in prayer. We become confused, tired or lax or only occasional with our
prayer? I pray and nothing in particular
happens, least alone what I have prayed for is not granted.
Maye the last example Jesus’ gives is an answer to this
confusion. If our Lord is good for his
word, then we can be assured that no prayer is unheard. That’s a firm given. “The
door will be opened for you,” Jesus promises today.
Yet, no matter how old we are, how successful, how educated or
influential, we are all still children of God.
And being children, we don’t always know what is best for us – we think
we do and often confuse our wants with our needs. We see only what we see and know only what we
know. Divine vision and knowledge is far
vaster and more complex than we can ever imagine.
If we call God, “Father,” then this parent God has more in mind
for us than we can imagine; and sees and knows far more than we do. That being said, it changes our expectations
in prayer. At the end of these teachings he says in our Gospel passage from
Luke: “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 things to your children, how much more will the Father in
heaven give the Holy Spirt to those who ask him?” (Lk 11: 12-13).
Clearly, this is a God who has our best interest at heart and
we don’t always know what we need. What
we need is a fuller sharing in the Holy Spirit and that is the greatest gift we
can receive. To discern what God’s will
is for us would be a great, an awesome, answer to any prayer.
Yes, we should pray for the things we need in this world; our
“daily bread.” What we ultimately need, still may not really want, is a deeper
relationship with God and with Christ himself. It may not be as instantly
gratifying, or shiny and exciting, or even impressive to others. But, if our
faith can grow stronger and more alive, everything else falls into place
according to its importance for us.
So, maybe its good to ask ourselves, “How is my spiritual
life? How regular is prayer for me?
Daily? Only when in trouble? Do I feel a relationship with God that is
friendly, fearful, fantastic, distant, estranged, or?
How I answer those questions may reveal the greatest needs of
my life – and that I bring to prayer.
bestow in abundance your mercy upon us
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