July 24, 2022: Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 11:1-13
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!”
Children develop a sense of security by having their needs met. Every time a parent picks up a crying child to soothe and comfort him or her, that child is learning they are loved and that the world is a safe place. Communicating love and security to one’s children also fosters attachment and intimacy with them, and the knowledge that we as parents can be counted upon and trusted.
I remember when I first became a parent how surprised I was by the overwhelming love I felt for my child. I never knew how full my heart could be until I laid eyes on those 10 little fingers and 10 little toes. My love was wide and deep, and swelled with the inborn knowledge of how precious my child was. I felt such a profound sense of gratitude and joy. My child’s wellbeing was as important, or perhaps even more important than my own. I recognized that I would do anything to ensure my child’s happiness and safety.
My experience as a parent has given me a tiny glimpse into the unfathomable and boundless love God has for us. Many, many times, in the years since first becoming a mother, I have speculated that if I feel such tremendous love for my children, God’s love for me must be beyond imagination. I am filled with wonder and awe at the knowledge that God loves me unconditionally, and I am grateful for being beloved by God.
Jesus tells us in our gospel reading for today that God’s willingness to give to us if we but ask for God’s help is constant and never-ending. By likening God’s faithfulness to that of an imperfect parent (because all parents are imperfect!), Jesus is telling us that God listens to our needs and that God is faithful. We are the ones who sometimes hesitate to bring our needs before God!
Just as a child learns safety and security in the arms of a parent, by asking God to meet the desires of our heart over and over again, we learn that God is trustworthy and that God is good. We can breathe a sigh of relief in the knowledge that God will not abandon us, and we can learn to relax in the ever-loving arms of our God.