Today's Gospel: Luke 11:5-13 Today’s reading is a parable about a persistent, bold man who knocks on his neighbor’s door in the middle of the night asking for bread to serve to a friend that is passing through town. At first the neighbor says no, but eventually, after the man continues to ask, the neighbor gives him the bread. Delving into the passages immediately before and after this parable gives us some insight into its meaning. Before this verse, Jesus teaches His disciples the Lord’s Prayer. The verses directly after the parable are quite well known as well – "Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened unto you." Considering these surrounding verses, it becomes clear that this parable is about the importance of prayer and that we are to be persistent in our prayers. Elsewhere in the Bible, we are told that God knows our desires and needs before we even do. So, why are we told here to keep praying over and over? Because God longs to have a relationship with us. Just like if our child asks us to serve candy for breakfast, we’ll likely say no, because it wouldn’t be good for them. God, our loving Father, also knows what’s best for us. Sometimes the answer to our prayers might be different than what we hoped for, but we must believe God knows what is truly best for us. He wants us to not only love Him, but to pursue Him, rely on Him, and share our needs and desires with Him. If we trust in Him, He will provide for us in ways we’ve never imagined.

Ponder:

Is your prayer life consistent and persistent? If not, what changes can you make to improve this relationship with God?

Pray:

Dear God, thank You for this reminder that You want a relationship with me and that I should be persistent in my prayers. Thank You for providing just what I need. Please continue to guide my life.
Copyright 2018 Leslea Wahl Leslea Wahl is an award-winning author of Catholic Young Adult fiction. She hopes to encourage teens to grow in their faith through her fun, adventurous mysteries. Please visit her website at www.LesleaWahl.com or browse the wide variety of teen fiction available at www.CatholicTeenBooks.com. Receive CatholicMom.com newsletters in your inbox, including the Daily Gospel Reflection each morning! * indicates required
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