Knocking at Midnight

The Story

One of Jesus’ disciples asked Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Jesus gave them a simple prayer that included the words, “Give us day by day our daily bread.”

Then He told them a story.

Imagine, He said, that you have a friend, and you go to his house at midnight. You knock and say, Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. Another friend of mine just arrived from a journey, and I have nothing to feed him.

Your friend calls from inside, Don’t bother me. The door is locked. My children are in bed with me. I can’t get up.

But you keep knocking. And Jesus said, even if he won’t get up because you’re his friend, he’ll get up because you won’t stop asking, and he’ll give you as much as you need.

“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Then He finished with a question. If your son asks for a fish, would you give him a snake? If he asks for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

Reflection