Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (GA)

Luke 11:1-13

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” ² And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

       “Father, hallowed be your name.

       Your kingdom come.

³    Give us each day our daily bread,

⁴    and forgive us our sins,

for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

       And lead us not into temptation.”

⁵ And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? ⁸ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. ⁹ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. ¹¹ What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; ¹² or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ 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!”

What do you need? What are you seeking? How do you ask? The disciples want to know the trick in getting what they want from God. James tells us that asking without doubting, will get us what we want. Jesus says asking a friend even though he does not want to get up, will give you what you need.

What do you ask for from God? I know there are things I have asked for from God and still have not received. I also know the Garth Brooks song, Unanswered Prayers. I recognize that there are times when Ai am thankful for unanswered prayers. I also understand sometimes the answer is No. But the question still remains how do you ask?

Jesus teaches his disciples a simple version of the Lord's Prayer. Here in Luke it focuses on verse 3. The reception of Daily bread. He extends this by recognizing that our daily needs include the forgiveness of sins, and faith in our Salvation through Christ (or thy kingdom come). How does this Kingom comes, through our Father in Heaven sending his Son, just as he sends you daily bread, and likewise forgiveness of sins comes through Christ, but also through your neighbor proclaiming that word to you. Finally, daily bread even includes the protect of the Father, the strength of the Holy Spirit to help lead us away from temptation. These are the good and gracious gifts of God, which Jesus teaches us to pray for all summed up in the daily needs of life.

How do you ask? Like Jesus teaches us. Sometimes it is not about individual needs or wants, it is about God's gift of forgiveness.