Gospel: Luke 11:5-13

 

The Gospel today continues to speak about the theme of prayer, which began with the teaching of the Our Father. 

 

As always when Jesus has an important thing to teach, He has recourse to a comparison, a parable. Today, He tells us a strange story which ends with a question. He addresses the question to the people who listened to Him and also to us who today read or listen to the story. Before Jesus himself gives the answer, He wants our opinion. What would you answer: yes or no? Through dialogue, Jesus involves the people in the comparison and, from the responses He receives from them, the commitment to the message of the parable.

 

Jesus responds to the provocation. Jesus gives his response. The response of Jesus strengthens the message on prayer: God always expects our prayer. This parable reminds us the parable of the widow who insists to obtain her rights before the judge. 

 

Jesus draws a conclusion to apply the message of the parable to life. To ask, to search, to knock at the door. If you ask, you will receive. If you search, you will find. If you knock, the door will be opened for you. Jesus does not say how much time the request should last, this knocking at the door, but the result is certain.

 

The second application of the parable. The greatest gift that God has for us is the gift of the Holy Spirit. When we were created, He breathed his spirit into our nose and we became living beings. In the second creation through Faith in Jesus, He gives us the Holy Spirit again. The only way of obtaining it is through prayer. After days of prayer the abundant gift of the Spirit is obtained on the day of Pentecost.