Friend At Midnight: The Gospel of Luke

Scripture Reading: Luke 11:5-10 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 out of friendship, 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."

I have lived in my current home since my children were born, and over time I have met some wonderful friends and neighbors! What I love the most about having great neighbors are the times when I am preparing for company, and crafting a special meal, and all of a sudden realize that I need an egg (or some other ingredient), but I did not have any in my refrigerator! You know the story...panic sets in because my company will be showing up soon, and I don’t have time to go to the store, thus, a quick text to a few neighbors. And a few moments later there is a neighbor ringing my doorbell with the egg I need!

A very similar situation happens in this Jesus parable from the Gospel of Luke. This parable in some translations is titled "Friend at Midnight," and in other translations, "The Persistent Neighbor." In essence, Jesus tells a story about a persistent neighbor who knocked on his neighbor’s door at midnight asking for loaves of bread to feed the company that just arrived at the home. That neighbor may not have wanted to get up after midnight to help a friend, but because it is a friend persistently knocking at the door, the neighbor would be compelled to rise up and lend three loaves of bread. How does this story explain prayer to us?
Jesus is encouraging the disciples and us today to “pray without ceasing” to be persistent and to consider prayer a means of communion with God and something that is done fervently and consistently, and not just a one time thing. Even more than that, Jesus is telling us who God is for us through prayer. We have a God who desires to bless us and to act on our behalf. What stands out to me in my daily prayer life, is the peacefulness that settles in when I persistently and consistently pray; whether my prayers are answered or whether I find myself praying over something for long seasons. What helps me is to keep my prayer list on my phone, and if by chance I remove something on my list, it is because that prayer has been answered in some way. This practice helps me to visually see the ways that God is working in my life and in the lives of my loved ones and the communities that I participate in. Now, having said all of that...my prayer for a Marvel car has not been answered yet. All good things in good time, I suppose!

Prayer: Holy God, we give thanks for the words of Jesus teaching us to approach the throne of grace BOLDLY! Through this season of lent, keep our eyes open so we can see your work in our lives, and keep our hearts open to where your people need to be loved, prayed for, encouraged and embraced. Amen.