Ask and you will receive

Midweek Communion at St Giles Cheddington

Gospel Luke 11

⁵ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶ a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.” ⁷ And suppose the one inside answers, “Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.” ⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

⁹ ‘So I say to you: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹ ‘Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

Sermon

Prayer – at heart of Christian life – source of joy, frustration and sometimes pain. Reading comes after Lord’s Prayer.

Longer sermon might include: How do we pray? How does God answer prayer? Why does God sometimes seem to ignore my prayers?

Jesus praying at a certain place. Disciples ask him to teach them how it is done. Jesus replies succinctly:

‘When you pray, say:

‘“Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
³ Give us each day our daily bread.
⁴ Forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.”’

That’s it! Bits included in Matthew left out. But follows with parables. Sounds like Jesus is telling us to be persistent, even cajoling. But meaning closer to shameless or bold.

Breadless man asks only once. Does not persist, but relies on his friend’s willingness to help. Bold and confident in his request, regardless of time of night and inconvenience of his request.

So we should be bold in making our petitions to God, not hold back, calling upon him to keep his promises to us his children, and reliant on his desire to give us both what we need, and what is good for us.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.