Gospel Reflection July 27 – Deacon Frank Iannarino
Sunday, July 27
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 11: 1-13
Gospel:
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
“Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test.”
And he said to them, “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
and I have nothing to offer him,’
and he says in reply from within,
‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked
and my children and I are already in bed.
I cannot get up to give you anything.’
I tell you,
if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves
because of their friendship,
he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
Gospel Reflection:
Many of us have likely struggled with understanding the ways that God answers prayer. We have asked for something – healing for a loved one, freedom from a particular vice, or maybe clarity in discernment – and perhaps God’s answer seemed to be “no” … or even worse, nothing.
This is a common experience, and the Sacred Scriptures show us that this is a deeply human experience throughout all of time. Those who have put their trust in God down through the centuries, have felt this longing, frustration, or confusion again and again. We are not alone in this struggle. However, all of Sacred Scripture witnesses to another, much more fundamental truth: God is faithful, God is merciful, God hears our prayers.
In this week’s gospel, as Jesus teaches us how to pray, he likewise exhorts us to be persistent. Jesus assures us that his Heavenly Father knows how to give good gifts.
May the Eucharist we receive at Mass this weekend help us to be persistent – trusting that Christ, who gives himself to us perfectly in the Blessed Sacrament, will give what we need.
Deacon Frank Iannarino