17th Sunday in Ordinary Time    (revisited)

Gospel – Luke 11:1-13

Knock, Knock

Praying At Church of Holy Sepulchre

I wonder how many times, when we were younger, that our parents sat us down for a chat.  “Let’s talk!  Tell me what’s going on.”  And how often have we have done the same with our own kids?  Uncomfortable?  Sure, but also a sincere attempt to get us to open up and grow our relationship!  And that is what is happening in today’s Gospel.

“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.”

We know from experience we don’t always get what we ask for when we pray to God. He does work in mysterious ways, not always responding to us how we want or even when we want.  But He does respond.  And He does want us to keep knocking on His door.

And it’s not just about asking for something or making a prayer of petition.  In simplest terms, God wants us to talk to Him, to have a conversation, to share with Him how we are managing with life!  Prayer, quite simply, is conversation with the Creator!  And it’s conversation that He welcomes and cherishes!  Why?  Because God doesn’t just want a chat; He wants a relationship with us!  He wants us to develop a relationship with Him, to talk to Him, to confide in Him when life punches us in the gut and even when life fills us with joy. 

Imagine that!  God really does want to hear about our day!  He really wants to have that ‘talk’.  He has already said He would answer and listen to us!  And all it takes is for us to ask, to look for Him, to knock on His door.

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