Knock, Knock, Knockin' on Heaven's door

Jesus wants His disciples (us) to be in continual dialogue with His Father, just as He was.  And Jesus exhorts His disciples to intensify this dialogue during times of stress, just as He did.  The dialogue is, of course, prayer.

One of the parables Jesus chose to illustrate His point of praying always, especially in need, was the parable of the corrupt judge (Luke 18:1-8).  The judge ultimately granted the widow's petition not because the petition was just but because he didn’t want to be disturbed: "While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being, because this widow keeps bothering me I shall deliver a just decision for her lest she finally come and strike me."

The point of the parable is clear; just as the widow continually presented her petition to the judge so must we continually present our needs to God—and the Lord will eventually respond!

Another of Jesus’ parables earlier in the same Gospel involves two friends.  One friend in the middle of the night comes to borrow three loaves of bread.  After persistent knocking, his friend finally gets out of bed and takes care of the friend's need—not because of friendship but because of the friend's persistence—and so he can finally get some sleep (Luke 11:5-13)!

Jesus adds a comforting reflection to this parable; "For whoever asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; whoever knocks, is admitted."  But then unexpectedly He concludes the parable with a comparison between us and God as givers.  If we humans, sinful though we are, know how to give our children good things, "how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."  The best gift God can give is often not what we explicitly seek but God's own self, the Holy Spirit!

Often we misunderstand the purpose of seeking God's help in prayer.  We see prayer primarily as a means of controlling God for material advantages for ourselves or others; we don’t see prayer as a way of acknowledging the most fundamental relationship of our life, our relationship as creature to our Creator-Father.  But through persistent prayer we have the occasion to become more aware that as creatures we’re not self-sufficient but are dependent beings, like children to loving parents.  And through persistent prayer we slowly come to realize that our Father-Creator does respond to every prayer.  The response is often the best gift God can give—God’s own presence through the Holy Spirit.  With this presence we have the guidance and strength to handle life's stress and problems.