In the stillness of the
night, or other moments of the day, have you ever paused to think about the
relationships you treasure most in your life? One of the most profound and
endearing relationships we have is that of friendship. Friends are there for each
other in times of joy and sorrow, they support, comfort, and uplift. Imagine
for a moment, our Almighty God inviting us into such a relationship with Him,
calling us not just as servants, but as friends.
The Sacred Bond of
Friendship.
In John 15:15, Jesus said
to his disciples: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not
know his master does. Instead, I call you friends, for everything I learned
from my Father I have made known to you.” In one of his famous Books titled
I call you friends, Timonthy Radcliffe the beauty of friendship with God
by inspiring the reader through his own life and vocation as a Dominican priest.
On October 3rd, Vatican News published his reflection on “Friendship”
as a Synod Retreat Meditation.[1]
Coming to today’s Gospel,
(Luke 11:5-13), Jesus provides us with a vivid illustration about friendship to
emphasize the importance of perseverance in prayer. He paints a scenario where
a friend approaches another in the dead of night, asking for bread to entertain
a guest friend. Though the friend is initially reluctant, he eventually yields
not due to obligation but because of the relentless persistence of the
requester.
“But I tell you, even
if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he
will get up to give him whatever he needs because of persistence (Luke
11:8)
Isn’t it incredible that
Jesus chose friendship as an analogy? It was no accident. Our Savior wants us
to comprehend the depth, intimacy, and openness that should characterize our
relationship with the Father, especially in the context of prayer.
A lesson on Relentless
Persistence in prayer:
When you feel like your
prayers are unanswered, or when the weight of the world pushes down on you, and
you’re tempted to give up, remember this parable. Jesus isn’t just teaching us
about any form of persistence, but a persistence grounded in the trust and
closeness of friendship. Would a friend turn away in our time of need? Even
more so, would our heavenly Father, who loves us more deeply than any human
friend could, turn His face from us?
Assurance of Divine response
to our Prayers:
We often limit our
prayers to fleeting moments. Yet, Christ is encouraging audacity in our
petitions. He wants us to knock, to seek, to ask without ceasing, just as a
dear friend might come knocking at our door, unashamed and certain of the bond
they share with us.
“And I tell you, ask and
you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to
you.”
(Luke 11:9).
For those who feel their
prayers are mere whispers in the vast universe, or for those who’ve forgotten
the rhythm of prayer, this is a gentle reminder to open your heart wider, to
lean into the friendship God offers. In this divine relationship, you are not a
distant acquaintance but a treasured friend.
The Precious Gift of the
Holy Spirit:
And Jesus doesn’t just
stop at the call to perseverance. He assures us of the reward: the gift of the
Holy Spirit. When we persist in prayer, when we continuously engage with our
Heavenly Friend, He bestows upon us the most precious gift, His Spirit, which
comforts, guides, and empowers us. “So, if you, who are evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give
the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? (Luke 11:13)
As friends of God, let’s
be audacious in our prayers, let’s persevere with unwavering faith, and let’s
open our lives to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The door is waiting to be
opened, knock with the trust of a dear friend. I end this meditation with words
of Padre Pio to those who came to him with various needs: “Pray, Hope, don’t
worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayers.”
Let us Pray.
Heavenly Father, Friend
of our hearts,
We thank you for the gift
of a new day.
Guide us to knock at Your
door with the trust of a cherished friend.
Strengthen our spirits to
seek You persistently,
And as we ask with
unwavering faith,
May we receive the gift
of Your Holy Spirit.
Deepen our intimacy with
You,
And remind us always of
the bond of friendship we share.
We make our prayers
through Christ our Lord, Amen.
May God bless you as you
welcome His words in your life today….. Amen. 🙏🙏🙏
[1] Timothy
RADCLIFFE, “Synod Retreat Meditation”, in Vatican News, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2023-10/synod-retreat-meditation-friendship.html,
October 3, 2023.
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