July 28, 2019: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading: Luke 11:1-13

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test.”

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ 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.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 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 gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

Reflection:

This week we are called to pray as Jesus taught us to pray. He also instructs us to be persistent in prayer and that God does hear our prayers. He tells us to pray simply and directly to God. Now I ask myself how persistent am I really in prayer?

Action:

The Gospel opens telling us that “Jesus was praying in a certain place.” Do you have a certain place to pray? Finding that place might be our call to action this week. It makes our Lectio Divina and time for prayer more intimate. It will become a place where you and the Teacher can spend quality time. Perhaps you’ll spend time reflecting on those prayers God answered and say, “Thank you!”