Reflection on Today’s Gospel – Lk 11:5-13
Today's Gospel speaks of perseverance in prayer. “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”. (cf. Lk 11:5-6)
Only this detail should be noted that the petitioner from today's Gospel is asking for three loaves not for himself, but for his friend. It is extremely important that we pray for one another. Today, believing parents sometimes forget to pray for their children, or they pray for their child only when something threatens them or when they are faced with some life situation.
The Lord Jesus Himself prayed for His disciples and for all of us. "Sanctify them in truth," he prayed to his Eternal Father on Holy Thursday. "I am not only asking for them, but also for those who, thanks to their word, will believe in me." And in the Letter to the Hebrews we read that Christ, our High Priest, went into heaven to make intercession for us before God. (cf. Heb 9:24)
Recall how often the Apostle Paul asked Christians to pray for him and assured them of his prayers for them. " we do not cease praying for you," he writes to the Colossians, "and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God". (cf. Col 1:9-10)
To pray for others, and especially for those entrusted to our responsibility, and for those to whom we owe something important, is a simple duty of love, and may we not neglect this duty. If we persistently pray for others, then we strive more for our own holiness. After all, my prayer for others will be the more fruitful, the closer I am to God. In addition, persistent prayer for others illuminates darkness’s which, if not removed, can greatly poison our relationships, even with our loved ones.
If the spouses prayed more for one another, there would certainly be more peace in their families. If parents prayed more for their children and children for their parents, there would surely be more understanding between them and more unity in faith.
Until Tomorrow
fr. george