SCRIPTURE LUKE 11:5-13
teachings on prayer
Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.
I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?…If you then, you who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
REFLECTION
In this teaching on prayer Jesus seems to be emphasizing persistence and faith so that our prayers will be answered. Our prayers may not be answered exactly as prayed but something better will come to us or to another who is in more need. The prayers will definitely be answered.
To persist we must have faith and trust in Jesus’ promise, I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Maybe knock harder or speak louder. Only kidding, God hears our prayers in a whisper and in our hearts when they are not spoken.
SCRIPTURE LUKE 11:29-32
the demand for a sign.*
While still more people gathered in the crowd, he said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.
REFLECTION
The book of Jonah is a fun book to read. Jonah disobeys God mission to preach repentance to the Ninevites by sailing in the opposite direction, is swallowed by a great fish, prays to God, is saved by God, follows God’s original command to preach repentance to the Ninevites who repented. God held his wrath because of the Ninevites contrite heats.
The reason Jonah refused God’s mission was not fear of the Ninevites but that they may be repent and be saved. Jonah hated the Ninevites. A lesson here for us is not to discriminate. God wills the salvation of all. It isn’t our job to judge. Remember Jesus rebuking his disciples for their narrow mind-ness, dismissing those that were not “one of us.”
‘Master, we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.’ Do not stop him,’ Jesus said, ‘for whoever is not against you is for you.’ Luke 9:48-50
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this evil generation. What was that sign? It was a sign of repentance, the end is near, make ready, clean up your act before it is too late. Oh, if only people would repent like the Ninevites! So many still do not repent of their sins today and turn to God. Jesus is greater than Jonah. Listen to Him. Pray to embrace Him. Pray for a contrite heart!
SCRIPTURE LUKE 11:37-53
denunciation of the pharisees and scholars of the law.
After he had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil…. give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you…you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God….Woe to you Pharisees! You love the seat of honor in synagogues and greetings in marketplaces. Woe to you! You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.
Then one of the scholars of the law* said to him in reply, “Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.” And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them. Woe to you! You build the memorials of the prophets whom your ancestors killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent to the deeds of your ancestors, for they killed them and you do the building of memorials….From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah* who died between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood….
REFLECTION
Renew in me a clean heart and steadfast Spirit. Psalm 51:10 Jesus tells the Pharisees and Scholars all that is unclean comes from the heart. All that showiness of religiosity is nothing except about themselves. Be humble of heart. Know only God is good. We do good deeds only when united to the heart of Christ. We make no claim on righteousness but are made righteous by the blood of the cross. “Arise! Shine, for your light has come, the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you then all your people shall be righteous.” Isaiah 60
The Scholars put their foot in their mouth by seeking to be excused from Jesus’ denunciation but only made matters worse. They too are not without sin. Watch out pointing to the faults of others as the Scholars did, who imposed heavy burdens, without lifting a finger to help. Scholars memorialize the prophets who their ancestors punished and killed. They talk a good talk but not a good walk. They do not follow the prophets’ teachings, only celebrate their deaths with memorials.