Ask, Seek and Knock

July 28th, 2019 Proper 12

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, 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 indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial."

And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, `Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:1-13

Ask, Seek and Knock

Could just stand here lost, berwildered

trying to find my way without help

or I could ask a stranger to help me

and be set free from my selfish worry.

I could just stay in this garden's comfort

smile at the lovely flowers and the quiet

surrounded by the comfortable shelter

or walk up to the door and rap away.

Could I linger forever in this doubt 

thinking it better than the unknown

or will I shoulder the bravery and heart

that it takes to pray for something better?

Can we imagine for a moment love listens?

and that God has good enough for us all?

Can we try out our voices just a little

and explode hope and dreams over all?

I choose today to sing a new song

to pick up the dusty instruments and play

to wander in the strangers land and knock

knowing that God will surely meet me there.

The Collect

O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.