Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. ‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

I am going to be honest here. I have asked Jesus for many things – and not all my prayers have been answered! I have 30 years worth of journals, full of requests – some big, some small, some pure hearted, some totally selfish. Some were very important to me at the time, and a good many, looking at them now, make me wonder what I was thinking! (Does anyone else re-read old journals and shake their head?)

In my work as a spiritual director, the single most common issue that comes up is this: how do you reconcile a good God with the weight of carrying unanswered prayers? I see people struggle, trying to make sense of the gap between their unfulfilled desires and a loving father who gives good things to His children. And honestly, some days I struggle too.

Something a spiritual director shared with me once might be helpful. She told me that my heart is big enough to hold the opposites. Life and death. Abundance and scarcity. God can be good, and my greatest desires can remain unfullfilled. The opposites can both be true at the same time.

And so, I ask. I know that He is good, He hears me, He has my best in mind, and so I make my need known to the one who can answer every prayer, but sometimes chooses not to. It takes courage, but I ask anyway.

Friends, are you carrying the opposites today? He is listening. He is good. Even if we don’t think he will answer, let’s ask anyway. Let Him meet us in that gap – His presence might be what we need most anyway.