"The Shameless Neighbor”

In Jesus Holy Name July 27, 2019

Text: Luke 11:5-8,13b Pentecost VII - Redeemer

“The Shameless Neighbor”

Over the past 4 weeks we have been reading the parables and teachings of Jesus as written by Luke in His Gospel. Luke collected these stories and parables to answer the question: What does it mean to “follow Jesus? What is discipleship? What does a disciple of Jesus need to know about God?

There was the story of the Good Samaritan… demonstrate mercy and care. Today Luke answers the question “how should a disciple pray?” The disciple should trust God when we pray.

How do we pray? How should we pray? Are their special words? No How does God answer prayer? Why does God sometimes seem to ignore my prayers? These questions will be rolling just beneath the surface. Luke packs into these thirteen verses: The Lord's prayer, a parable on prayer, and then reminder that the disciple can be “shameless in prayer, trusting in a God of love and mercy.

Connection is what we deeply long for as human beings. That’s why so many people join clubs, service organizations and churches. There is no connection more profound and powerful than a personal connection with God. Prayer is our opportunity to connect to God, the Creator of the universe. realize to whom you are praying. you are praying to God, the all-powerful and glorious Creator of the universe. If you were asked to speak to the President of the United States or the Queen of England, would you fall asleep or allow your mind to wander? I doubt it. How much greater is God! He alone is “majestic in holiness, awesome in glory” (Billy Grahm)

Prayer should be something we do everyday, like breathing, eating and walking and talking, it should not become like that little glass covered box on the wall that says, "break in case of emergency." It is true that so very often we associate prayer with crises in our life. Jesus said: “Ask.” “Knock” and the door to God’s gifts and resources will be opened for you. The disciple can trust God’s love. This is why Jesus teaches this prayer. We begin with the word “father”. The father’s role is to protect and care for his family and children. His answers to our prayers will never, never cause us harm. Luke, more than any other evangelist, stresses the importance of prayer in the life of Jesus' and in the life of a disciple.

In response to the disciples who asked: “Lord teach us to pray”; Jesus tells the parable of the friend who calls at midnight. In the culture of the Middle East, (still today) Hospitality is critical.

In the 1st century “hospitality” was of paramount importance in the biblical world, and when a guest arrived – even if unexpectedly…even at midnight. Hospitality is required. This cultural reality enables Jesus to tell a parable about a God of love.

The characters in the story are a villager who is in bed with his family at midnight and a neighbor with a need. When the man in the story finds himself without enough bread for his guest, he goes to a friend and neighbor and asks to borrow some bread. It’s past midnight , yet he must wake up his friend’s entire household to avoid shame and to honor a cultural code.

“Do not bother me,” the friend answers from within the dark house. “The door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything” (11:7). You and I might empathize with the neighbor. The midnight knock at the door is not only worrisome but to wake an infant in the middle of the night… means a long night for the parents.

In the culture of the biblical world, the response of the neighbor to this midnight knock immediately tells the listeners of Jesus, that the neighbor is the one behaving badly. This would be unthinkable to allow your friend and neighbor to be shamed and embarrassed.

Jesus says that the neighbor will eventually respond to his friend’s request, not because he is a friend, but because of his friend’s shamelessness” persistence. “Persistence," at midnight implies a boldness that comes from a long standing friendship. (11:8). The man displays no shame in asking for help from his neighbor to meet the requirements of hospitality. The friend would incur dishonor if he failed to help his neighbor in this essential obligation. Jesus has made a point about the prayers of a disciple. God, our Father, expects us to come to Him with our requests.

A disciple must dare to be shameless in our prayer requests to our heavenly Father. We are to Ask and Knock, because Jesus tells us to do so. We are to trust in God’s loving purpose for us. Not everything that happens in life is God’s will. But we can affirm with St. Paul, “in all things God works for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).