The Gospel of Luke 11:1-13
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.”
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 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!”
Let us Pray: Heavenly Father, You are holy, and yet You draw near. Teach me to pray not as a ritual, but as a child speaking to a loving parent. Let Your kingdom come in my heart, my home, and my community. Provide what I need today—not just bread, but grace, strength, and peace. Forgive me, Lord, as I forgive those who’ve wronged me. Lead me away from temptation, and hold me steady in trials. I trust You to give good gifts, especially Your Spirit. Amen.
This Lord’s prayer is noted for its simplicity and brevity; it is a powerful prayer put in simple terms, it is not a petition; rather, it acknowledges our identity as children of the Father.. This prayer speaks of an earnestness and intensity; all too often, our prayers can be merely wishes cast up to heaven, and not real prayer. Today’s Gospel is a lesson for all of us. It is a teaching Gospel about prayer. One Jesus used to teach his disciples how to pray. It emphasizes that prayer is a relationship with the Father. The Lord’s prayer shows our desire to connect with God as Jesus did and still does. The Lord’s Prayer is indeed a summary of the entire Gospel. It is called “The Lord’s Prayer” in that Jesus Himself gave it to us as a way of teaching us to pray. What we need to know about life and prayer is contained in this wonderful gift. Just saying this prayer is not enough. The goal is to internalize each and every aspect of this prayer so that it becomes a model of our personal petition to God and an entrustment of our entire life to Him.
This Gospel is not just about the Lord’s Prayer, but a three-part lesson in intimacy, persistence, and trust. The first part, Jesus begins with a model prayer that is brief yet rich in meaning. It acknowledges God’s holiness, “Hallowed be your name”, His reign, “Your kingdom come”, and our dependence “Give us each day our daily bread”. It emphasizes forgiveness, both received and extended, and a plea for protection from trials. This prayer is not just liturgical; it’s relational. Addressing God as “Father” was radical in its intimacy, inviting us into a childlike trust.
The second part is a parable of the persistent friend. Jesus tells of a man who knocks at his friend’s door at midnight, seeking bread because he has a visitor and nothing to give him. Though the friend is reluctant, he eventually responds, not out of friendship, but due to the man’s shameless persistance. This parable portrays prayer as bold and unrelenting. It’s not about eloquence or timing, it’s about the courage to ask, seek, and knock. This part is also about Trust. Ask, Seek, Knock: Trusting the Father’s Goodness. Jesus assures that those who ask will receive, those who seek will find, and those who knock will have the door opened. He compares God’s generosity to that of earthly parents: if flawed humans give good gifts, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask?
This final promise or third part shifts the focus from material provision to spiritual abundance aligning our desires with divine purpose. The greatest gift is not bread, but the Spirit, the presence of God Himself.
Let us Pray: Lord, You invite me to keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. So, I come again, not with perfect words, but with persistent hope. I seek Your wisdom in confusion, Your mercy in weakness, Your presence in silence. Even when answers delay, help me trust that You are listening. Shape my desires to match Your will, And let my prayers be rooted in faith, not fear. Amen.
Seek Ye First is a hymn encouraging believers to seek God’s kingdom first in their lives. 1 Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Hallelu, Hallelujah! 2 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. Hallelu, Hallelujah! 3 Man shall not live by bread alone, But by every word That proceeds out from the mouth of God. Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Reflections by Bob 