Readings (Year C):
Genesis 18:20 – 32
Psalm 138:1 – 2, 2 – 3, 6 – 7, 7 – 8
Colossians 2:12 – 14
Luke 11:1 – 13
Reflection: God is not behind a locked door
There’s a song I learned in kindergarten that has stayed with me through the years:“Determination is my motto, determination…”
Back then, we sang it with passion and innocence, but its message has echoed in my life ever since. Determination and persistence—these are not just childhood values. They are keys that open doors in every walk of life. Teachers, students, parents, leaders—we all know that without persistence, dreams remain just that: dreams.
One summer, I witnessed a powerful lesson in persistence. It was the week before the school’s annual picnic, and excitement filled the air. The buses were booked, the list of attendees posted, and students could barely contain their joy.
Then, one afternoon, she knocked. A quiet, humble student stood at the door of the convent office. “Sister,” she said softly, “I really want to go for the picnic, but my parents said they can’t afford it.”
We listened with compassion, and like we had told others in similar situations, gently explained, “You may have to sit this one out unless you can find a sponsor.” She nodded, thanked us, and left.
But the next day, she came again. And the next. Always kind. Always hopeful. Never demanding. Just a child with a simple wish, knocking—not only on our door but on our hearts.
Her gentle persistence moved us. In community, we reviewed our picnic budget, made a few cuts here and there, and made room for one more child. When we gave her the news, her face lit up with joy—it was as if heaven had answered. Her quiet, steady knocking had become a living gospel right before our eyes.
Today’s readings echo that same spirit. In Genesis 18, Abraham dares to intercede for the people of Sodom. He comes before God with holy boldness—not arrogance, but courage rooted in relationship. “What if there are fifty righteous people? Forty-five? Forty?” He keeps going, down to ten. He’s not bargaining—he’s pleading with the heart of a father.
In Luke 11, Jesus reinforces this same message. He teaches his disciples to pray, not just with words but with persistence. He tells a story of a man who knocks at midnight asking for bread. At first, the door remains shut. But the man keeps knocking. Eventually, the door opens—not because of friendship, but because of persistence.
That student was our “midnight visitor.” She knocked—not to annoy, but to hope. Not to beg, but to be seen and included. And like Abraham’s intercession, her steady presence invited mercy and love to rise within us.
Jesus’ words today are unforgettable: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
These are not empty promises. They are invitations to relationship. Jesus knows we sometimes feel like we’re knocking on heaven’s door in the dark, unsure if anyone’s listening. But he assures us: keep knocking. God is not indifferent. God is near. God hears and responds—not always in the way or time we expect, but always in love.
Jesus ends with an image as comforting as a warm embrace: “If you, 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?”
This is not just about receiving things—it’s about receiving God. When we persist in prayer, we are not just reaching for blessings; we are reaching for relationship. And God always responds with presence, peace, and power.
So, keep knocking. Whether you are a student with a dream, a teacher seeking wisdom, a parent interceding for a child, or a leader facing difficult decisions—don’t give up. Knock with hope. Ask with faith. Seek with love.
Because the God we serve is not behind a locked door—God is already waiting at the threshold, eager to welcome us in.
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