17TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Gen. 18:20-32; Ps 138;
Col 2:2-14; Lk 11:1-13.
Christian Prayer
Jesus was a man of prayer. He did not pray only when he had time, he actually stole time to pray. And his disciples have watched him do this over and over again. In our gospel, we hear that one of the disciples of Jesus asks that he should teach them to pray like John taught his disciples.
It was common for rabbis at the time to teach their disciples some prayers which they repeated. This may be the reason for the reference to John the Baptist and his disciples. Such prayers were signs of identification and identity. This question then is a question of prayer identity as Jesus’ disciples. Jesus then taught them the “Our Father”. But what is more important is his teaching about prayer. In his teaching he gives us three characteristics of Christian prayer and these are the focus of today’s reflection.
Persistence at Prayer
Christian prayer is one of persistence. The man who goes to a friend at night would not give up until he gets a response. Jesus says “…if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of friendship, he will get up and give him whatever he needs because of his persistence” (LK 11:8)
To persist is to hold on to faith in constant prayer until God responds. It is coming back to him day after day until God intervenes on your behalf. Paul admonishes us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17). Persistence is seen in Jacob’s struggle with God which is expressed in the words “I will not let you go until you bless me” (Gen. 32:27). We should never be discouraged if the answer delays because God will surely answer. The Syrophoenician woman, for example, never gave up. (Mk 7:24-30)
You may have been praying for an intention for many years, never give up. Never let your faith in God go. He is just about to rise on your behalf and give you victory.
Intercessory
Christian prayer is also intercessory. Intercessory is to seek God’s face for the needs of others. This kind of intercession is not a onetime attempt. It also has the character of persistence. We can call it persistent intersession. This is when we pray with the person until God favours with a response.
This intercession is what I call Empathetic Intercession. We must be able to understand the needs and share the feelings of others before we can really intercede for them. Put yourself in their shoes. The man who received a visitor at night and went in search of food for him was one who truly understood the problem of the visitor. He understood what it means to journey all day and feel hungry at night. He knew that no one can sleep soundly with hunger at night. We, like the man in the gospel, must be willing enough to worry God on behalf of others.
The early Christian community prayed fervently for Peter when he was arrested until his release. (Acts 12:5-16) May your sincere intercession for others release abundance of blessings and freedom into their lives.
God is a Good Father
In teaching about prayer Jesus focuses on the nature of the one to whom we pray. The reading (the gospel) begins and ends with the emphasis that the one who receives our prayer is a good father.
God answers our prayers not because we have found the right words or the appropriate time but simply because he is good. That’s all.
When we pray to him, he gives us all that we need above all things – ie himself. Jesus says the father gives us the holy Spirit. We must allow the Holy Spirit to help us to pray and live Holy lives.
In Luke 11:9-10, there is an assurance that God always answers us when we knock, seek and ask him but we must not think that is an unconditional right to have prayers answered. Not only does he give, open and allow us to find him, he also seeks, asks and knocks on the door of our lives.
In the parable of the fig tree the owner comes seeking fruits on the tree (Lk 13:6-7). Another parable presents servants who await the master’s return in order to open the door when he comes to knock (Lk 12:36). Jesus himself asks “…when the son of man comes will he find any faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8).
The Christian who prays must do so aware of his most important need – God. In Christian prayer we place our needs before him but it is more important to find him and be found by him. That is Christian prayer.
By Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
