Readings:
Malachi 3: 13-20
Luke 11: 5-13
Reflection:
Today’s readings emphasise the contrasting realities of God’s justice and the consequences of serving or rejecting God. Malachi addresses the people who complain that serving God is pointless, because the evildoers prosper and escape punishment. Familiar? Yet, the passage speaks of God’s promise to protect those who serve God. Luke introduces the parable of the persistent friend, highlighting the importance of persevering in prayer for our needs.
Perseverance is not a strong characteristic in our culture of immediate gratification; the idea of lifelong commitment to anything or anyone is frowned upon as being vaguely unrealistic. Enthusiasm does not last. After some time, we unconsciously allow ourselves to be controlled by our previous beliefs and values. When it comes to religious practices, especially prayer, one of the commonest reasons for giving up is boredom, or the root of it, acedia. Yes, we lose faith in God because of unanswered prayers, while we see the faithless prospering.
God is not present to simply fulfil our desires. This expectation gets solidified when we view petitionary prayer in a myopic way. It is convenient to take Jesus’ words only literally: ‘[f]or everyone who asks also receives’; yet, Jesus also adds ‘…how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’. Yes, God desires to grant our wishes, but only in a way that brings us closer to God. Prayer leads to conversion – it is an encounter, not a performance. Persistence in prayer deepens our encounter with God and realigns our wills to the will of God, bringing us to an acceptance of whatever God wills for us. It also helps adjust, over time, our image of God, which reforms our own image. Persevering in prayer leads to contemplation, and contemplation is not sitting still and closing your eyes; it is about opening your eyes and awakening to the beauty all around you. This is the work of conversion!
Prayer is a form of work – ‘the work of God’, as St Benedict called it. It requires intention, attention and persistence. The message is clear; persist in prayer, for God is listening. God will act. Don’t try to control God or the situation, as you don’t know the whole picture. Trust in God, for God is always faithful. And remember, ‘some of God’s greatest gifts are, in fact, answered prayers!’ (Garth Brooks, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dtopRtx0Co).
Kelvin Rodrigues is a parishioner at St. Paul of the Cross, Glen Osmond, SA.