The Gospel for October 23, 2004 (St. James)
Luke 11:1-13
Now it happened that he was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘When you pray, this is what to say: Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come; give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.’ He also said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him;” and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up to give it to you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it to him for friendship’s sake, persistence will make him get up and give his friend all he wants. ‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened. What father among you, if his son asked for a fish, would hand him a snake? Or if he asked for an egg, hand him a scorpion? If you then, evil as you are, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’ -- The New Jerusalem Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1995, c1985
A Study
There are a few points of translation in this text that interest me.
First, in the condensed Lord's prayer, Matthew and Luke differ between "debt" and "sins" to be forgiven in the original usage of the Greek in the manuscripts. Further, the original Greek in Luke (eisphero hemas me) is often translated as "lead us not" when the preferred usage is "bring us not." Finally, in the Lord's prayer, the common usage of "temptation" is the third meaning in a Greek dictionary. The preferred translation is "proving," or "trial.
Second, the Greek word anaideia translated "importunity" in the Authorized version acually could better be translated as "shameless." And the connotation of persistence used here, then, is robbed of its utility.
Today's lectionary includes Psalm 32, which is a prayer of instruction and thanksgiving. The psalmist reminds us that even in the Law there is forgiveness for prayerful admission of sin.
A Reflection
It has always disturbed me in the past that God would have to have his door beaten down to understand the desires of our hearts. Rather, we are given an example of a man who shamelessly asks for what he needs, in the middle of the night, from a friend. If the friend does not respond from friendship, he will do so because of the shameless request at the odd hour.
But today, what really disturbs me is that we have been brainwashed (or brainwashed ourselves) into thinking that we are going to get what we asked for! In reality, that does not often happen, especially at the time we want*. What Jesus says here is that God will plentifully send the Holy Spirit to us.
This is the same Holy Spirit that descends on us when we sit quietly in Jesus' shadow, listening to the stillness. Our meditation becomes prayer, and God's response is as Jesus tells us. And the Comforter will come to us and ease our hearts. Thanks be to God!
* I had originally mis-written this, stating that prayer for what we ask is NEVER given, which I do not believe.
The Collect
Grant, O God, that following the example of your servant James the Just, brother of our Lord, your Church may give itself continually to prayer and to the reconciliation of all who are at variance and enmity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever.
9:33:30 PM 
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