Asking for something for ourselves does not come readily to many of us

 
Reading: Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;  a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ Luke 11:5-6.
 
Good morning, happy Thursday, and many blessings my dear family.
 
Today’s Gospel (Luke 11:5-13) begins with Jesus asking his disciples “what they would do” if a friend woke them out of a deep sleep in the middle of the night and asked them for a loaf of bread. Honestly, ask yourself: how would you respond? If the friend continues to persist, most likely we will give them what they want so we can have some peace!

Jesus talks about this scenario but then moves into a passage that is very familiar: “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.” Ask yourself: do you take Jesus’s words literally? I assume that most of us have learned over the years not to take Jesus’s words literally. At times in my life, I know that Jesus has answered my prayer. However, there have been other times when I believe that my prayer has not been answered — at least in the way I wanted it to be answered. Are my expectations too concrete? Is it realistic for me to expect to receive exactly what I asked for since it doesn’t usually happen that way? However, does this mean that my asking, seeking, and knocking are in vain? Does this mean that Jesus is not listening to me?

Jesus reminds us of the importance of intercession, of asking for what we need. In Luke we have two great stories of asking with perseverance – that of the widow and the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8) and this reading of the friend at night. As friends of the Lord (John 15:13-15) may we have the courage to ask and the freedom the accept the Lord’s response to us.
 
Asking for something for ourselves does not come readily to many of us. It can be easier to ask for a favor for someone else. We know God is the giver of every good gift and will give us what is for our good. We pray for the faith to believe and the perseverance to continue to ask in the spirit of this Gospel reading.
 
I look back to times when I asked and was given, sought and found, knocked and it was opened to me. I also bring to mind when I was not given, when I did not find, and when the door stayed shut. In all simplicity I ask the Lord for faith and trust, for freedom at looking at my relationship with him. I strive to trust and believe that Jesus does respond to me. However, I don’t always recognize his response at the time. Other times I may be so upset about not getting the answer I “wanted” that I don’t have the openness to recognize the answer I receive!

Today may we pray for open eyes, open minds, and open hearts to hear, for Jesus may be answering us! We may receive more than we asked for!
 
Blessings,
 
Fr. Luis+