Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: October 12, 2023

Date in the Ordine: Thursday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text: Luke 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples: "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 him 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?"

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today from the Gospel of Luke immediately follows Jesus’ teaching the disciples to pray which we read yesterday. Jesus goes on from there to teach the disciples about prayer using the analogy of persistently asking another for help. Christ assures us that our heavenly Father will respond to what we ask. And He gives us the memorable words: “ask and you will receive; seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” Christ’s teaching assures us that our prayers are heard, our prayers matter, our prayers bring results.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I turn to the LORD in prayer? Do I ask? Do I seek? Do I knock? Do I trust that the LORD will respond? Am I patient for the response?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, your beloved Son came among us, sent by You, and revealed You to us in His teachings and His prayer. Send your Spirit to open our minds and hearts to these revelations and to strengthen our resolve to walk in your Son’s footsteps as His disciples. Grant that we may grow into the daughters and sons whom You created us to be, loving You, our Father and Creator, with all our being, and relying upon You, your grace and your transformative love. Give us the wisdom and resolve to ask of You what we need, to seek You always and everywhere, and to knock upon the doors of heaven in search of your power and presence upon without which we cannot live. We ask this in the name of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.