Today’s Scripture Readings

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!’

It was St John of the Cross who once said, ‘The language that God hears best is the silent language of love!’ Imagine a fish without water. Imagine a bird without the air. Imagine one of us on the journey into the heart and mind of our God without prayer. Prayer is our heart oxygen, our food for the journey into love. But let’s not complicate prayer.

In today’s Gospel Luke reminds us of the need for persistence in prayer. Prayer works most effectively when regular, when a part of a rhythm, when it has become part of who we are in our day to day. But our prayer, to be truly effective, must increasingly mirror God’s heart. Yes, ‘ask and seek and knock!’ But ask and search and seek the doorways that are of and at the heart of love. Prayer is NOT about saying a rosary to win the lottery; that’s babble. Prayer is NOT lighting candles to avoid a speeding ticket; that’s stupidity. Prayer is focussing the energy of the heart to the one who is all heart, our God.

Sometimes mantra, sometimes song, sometimes silent presence, sometimes speaking from the heart to the one who always listens, sometimes ritual and liturgy. We come to this space of prayer and encounter humbly, trustingly and knowing that our God of love awaits us. All that God seeks is our presence, our trusting, our choice to be in that space humbly and openly. Then miracles happen – our hearts are changed, transformed. Slowly, we become love for our world!