Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross in Green Bay, WI

Reflection for July 24, 2016

Persistent prayer will reveal a richer relationship with God

by Sister Madonna Swintkoske

In today’s reading, Jesus instructs his disciples about prayer.  The lesson is one of perseverance.

Jesus gives the parable of a man coming to a neighbor in the middle of the night looking for some food to provide to an unexpected visitor.  Jesus says if the man persists, then the neighbor will eventually give the man all he needs simply to get some peace.

In another example Jesus asks if a father would give his child a snake instead of a fish or a scorpion instead of an egg.  He ends by saying, “If you, with all yours sins, know how to give your children good things, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

There are a number of ways of praying persistently. One is to keep begging God to give us something we want or need. Another is to think that somehow we can manipulate God or put God under some kind of obligation by asking repeatedly. This way of praying is a subtle way of asking God to do our will.

The kind of prayer that Jesus is talking about is really something quite different. He seems to presume that what we are asking for is the gift of God’s Spirit. Whatever form our prayer takes ultimately, it must be to know God, to love God and to follow God. The more we pray for this the more likely it will become a reality in our lives. And could God refuse to hear this prayer?

 

To "ask rightly" and to "ask always" represents the appropriate posture of creatures in relation to their Creator. Thank you, Sr. Madonna, for reminding us of that! Blessings!

Often we forget that last line--how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. Thanks for pointing us in that direction.

“If you, [with all your limitations and woundedness from living in a world-of-sin] know how to give your children good things, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

I can truthfully say I did not 'know' the impact of these words until I became a grandmother. I 'thought' I knew what they meant, when, as a young Mom, my love for my children wanted 'all the good gifts of God' that they and their lives could hold. But I must tell you, my Grandmother's Love is HUGER and STRONGER still, and most certainly due in part to how much this kind of POWERFUL LOVE is needed for all children today.

This POWERFUL LOVE is needed to create a world of JUSTICE and JOY, as Lori True so beautifully expresses. (JUSTICE and JOY - what a "winning combination!" Which one 'comes first?' -- maybe JOY and JUSTICE ....??? What do YOU think? Which one is most lacking in our world today? And who would ever think that JUSTICE actually creates JOY ??? -- Wow, how powerful the voice of this woman song-writer is.)

Place at the Table (by Lori True)

For everyone born, a place at the table
For everyone born, clean water and bread
A shelter, a space, a safe place for growing
For everyone born, a star overhead

And God will delight
When we are creators of justice and joy.
Yes, God will delight
When we are creators of justice,
Justice and joy.

For woman and man, a place at the table
Revising the roles, deciding the share
With wisdom and grace, dividing the power
For woman and man, a system that's fair

And God will delight
When we are creators of justice and joy.
Yes, God will delight
When we are creators of justice,
Justice and joy.

For young and for old, a place at the table
A voice to be heard, a part in the song
The hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled
For young and for old, the right to belong

And God will delight
When we are creators of justice and joy.
Yes, God will delight
When we are creators of justice,
Justice and joy.

For just and unjust, a place at the table
Abuser, abused, with need to forgive
In anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy
For just and unjust, a new way to live

And God will delight
When we are creators of justice and joy.
Yes, God will delight
When we are creators of justice,
Justice and joy.

For everyone born, a place at the table
To live without fear, and simply to be
To work, to speak out, to witness and worship
For everyone born, the right to be free

And God will delight
When we are creators of justice and joy.
Yes, God will delight
When we are creators of justice,
Justice and joy.

And God will delight
When we are creators of justice and joy.
Yes, God will delight
When we are creators of justice,
Justice and joy.

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