Ask, Search and Knock

He 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 to 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

We are often overwhelmed by world events, and we can find ourselves looking for ways to cope with all of it. We often forget that we have the capacity to pray in all places, silently, asking for what we need for today. Jesus taught his disciples the prayer we call the Lord's prayer. They too needed to learn to pray at all times and struggled with everything they were witnessing. A simple formula for all our prayers in all the times we face. Jesus wanted them to know that there was someone hearing our prayers, someone on the other side of the door, none other than the heart of the living God. 

Loving Creator, you listen to us cry out

you are never far off from your creation

you hear the prayers we raise in these times

and are moving always to answer our plea.

We are frustrated and tempted to give up

no matter what we do the world gets uglier

the poor are not fed, the refugees turned away

and the rich get richer as too many go hungry.

Help us to use every waking hour for prayer

give us the faith to know you are listening

let us all ask, seek and knock in prayer 

trusting your love is providing all our needs. Amen.