Readings: Gal 3:1-5, Ps. Luke 1:69-75, Luke 11:5-13
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.
KEEP ASKING, KEEP SEARCHING AND KEEP KNOCKING; THERE WILL SOON BE A POSITIVE RESPONSE
Have you truly needed something from a friend who can give it to you, but is too busy to give it now? Or have you been in a situation where you needed something from a friend but couldn't get it because you couldn't reach him easily?
Such a situation can put one under serious pressure. Then the question that comes to mind is, are we going to give up or persevere in our struggles of waiting or reaching out to him? This kind of disposition is what we experience sometimes when we pray and our requests are yet to be granted.
And this kind of situation is what Jesus is addressing in the story in our Gospel passage today as he continues his teaching on prayer. Thus, telling us that we should approach God with confidence as a friend, persisting until we obtain what we need. We should keep on asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer until we obtain the answer we need.
Just like a boy asking his father for a fish or an egg, knowing that his father would not give him a snake or a scorpion instead of the fish or egg he had requested. With this illustration, Jesus emphasised that if we, who are prone to evil, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more shall the heavenly Father give to those who ask him.
This is what the people of Galatia were lacking that made them begin to quickly turn away from the faith and St. Paul in our first reading today chastised them for these ugly actions, in embracing the false teachings and ideas promoted by those who did not follow the true teachings of the Church but were quick to follow the ideas of the factions of the Church who taught something different from the true faith. Therefore we should not be like them. Let us learn how to be patient and persevere in our prayers.
Dear friends, prayer requires asking, seeking and knocking at God’s door patiently and persistently. Though one may say I have been praying for God’s intervention in some ugly situations, it seems as if no answer has been given. The fact is that God answers all our prayers if we are patient with him.
For he may not grant us what we want because, as a caring Father, he gives us what we truly need, and not what we want. But are we willing to trust the Lord and be patient with him? Are we willing to seek the Lord and to make the effort to find him and to follow him wherever he leads us? Do we have the courage and the love of God in our hearts?
No doubt we are full of energy, zeal and passion, ready to face the challenges and struggles of yet another day. But the question we need to ask ourselves is, what are we doing concerning the present situation in our lives, our family, societies and country?
It may seem as if all hope is gone, but the Lord is saying to us today, that we should ask, and it will be given to us; search, and we will find; knock, and the door will be opened to us. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. Let us all not be afraid to seek the Lord and ask him for blessings, protection and guidance.
LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are struggling with so many ugly situations in our lives, families, societies and the world at large. As we pour out our hearts to you in prayer, seeking and knocking, may you grant our hearts' desires according to your will and guide our ways today and always. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.
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