Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Genesis 18: 20-32; Psalm 138; Colossians 2: 12-14; Luke 11:1-13
Abraham models a reverent insistence in his begging God. “Far be it from you,” he dares to tell God, to allow any unjust destruction. On the day Abraham called, God responded; “on the day I called,” we pray in the psalm, “you answered me.” In the gospel, after teaching us how he himself prays, Jesus uses the example of a neighbor in need persistently knocking in the middle of the night. Ask, Jesus instructs; search, knock, he continues. If we know how to give good gifts to our children, he teaches in the “how much more” way the rabbis taught: “how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask…” NB: in Matthew’s gospel it is, “give every good gift.” Luke is sometimes called the evangelist of the Holy Spirit.
Some people have been taught that intercession: asking, searching, knocking, is the lowest form of prayer. Not according to Jesus. He stands before the face of God making intercession for us. Stand with him now before the face of God, and pray with him for the needs of the world, of your circle of family and friends, and then your own self. How does it feel to know he is praying with you and for you? Would you prefer the Holy Spirit or every good gift to satisfy all those needs?
Forgive us our sins for we are forgiving those who sin against us. Thank you for giving us the Spirit who fills us with such peace and joy that forgiveness is coming too!