Genesis 18:20-32 / Colossians 2:12-24 / Luke 11:1-13
There is no doubt, and it shouldn't be surprising, that life is difficult and has its problems.
And these problems make us question about life, about the meaning of life and also the meaning of our existence.
So, when we are faced with the big and difficult problems of life, we will certainly have serious questions.
But even for the small and little things of life, there are some strange questions. For example:
- Why is a round pizza put into a square box?
- Still on pizza, why is a round pizza cut into triangles?
- Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the tube or the bottle?
- Why do we hurt our hands by clapping when we like something?
Well, enough of questions about the strange things in life and there may or may not be answers.
And as much as there are questions about life, then when it comes to questions about God, that's when things get a bit edgy.
When the going is stable and smooth, we won't have that many curious questions about God.
But when we hit turbulence, when there are trials and tribulations, we will have our questions.
One of the frequently asked questions about God is this: Why doesn't God answer my prayer in my time of need? And if God loves me, why do I have to go through pain and suffering in life?
There are certainly more burning questions about God, but essentially it this: Does God really love me? Does God care about me?
As much as we have our questions about God, would it be surprising to know that God also has some questions for us?
In the gospel, God is asking us those questions when Jesus said: What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg?
Jesus goes on to say: If you then, who are evil, 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!
So, God wouldn't mind when we ask questions, and even burning questions about Him.
But when God asked us those questions in today's Gospel passage, our answers will be instinctively quick.
Certainly, we will want to give what is good to our children and to our loved ones. We won't want to hurt them or harm them.
And if we can say that about ourselves, then we too must say the same about God.
Because God created us in His image and with His love. And it is with the Spirit of love that we turn to God to ask, to search and to know which door to knock on.
It is the Spirit of love that teaches us how to pray and to address God as “Our Father”.
And essentially in the prayer of the “Our Father”, we pray that we will love just as God loves us, and that we hold on to our faith in God when we face the trials of life.
And if we want to know about the love and the truth of God, and about the nature and sincerity of God, here is something for our reflection:
The sincerity of a husband is known during the sickness of his wife. The sincerity of a wife is known during the difficult financial situation of husband.
The true love of the children is known during the old age of the parents.
The true nature of siblings is known during distribution of inheritance.
The sincerity of friends is known during hard times.
The true relatives are known when one is far from his country or lonely or sick.
True love is known when there is no means of benefit.
And a true believer is known during times of hardship.
So, what is good, what is true, what is beautiful, what is loving, comes from God.
God has already given us all these even without us asking. Let us discover the nature and the love of God in us as we pray and meditate on the prayer of the “Our Father”, the prayer that Jesus taught us.