If you doubt that God is our parent, read no further than this passage from Luke! When my kids were growing up and asked for something just once, I assumed they were not serious about the matter. Their requests went in one ear and out the other until they hassled me two or three times. Then I would try to negotiate something that we could all live with. Does this sound familiar? Jesus suggests that God responds to our supplications in somewhat the same way when he urges us to persevere in our requests. “Pray always without becoming weary.” I picture God as a parent of infinite patience as we bombard him with requests ranging from global issues like world peace to petty matters like winning a game or finding a missing car key. (My own prayer strategy on lost items : don’t bother God directly; go through St. Anthony for best results. Any mom will tell you the same.) Today’s gospel admonishes us to trust that God will “see to it that justice is done” which we learn the hard way doesn’t mean that we always get what we want. Wise parents never give their kids everything they seek because children often want things they shouldn’t have or there’s a better option that the child hasn’t thought of. How often have most of us begged God for something only to be disappointed when we don’t get it? But maybe something better came along instead. Last week I talked with a woman who was devastated when she lost her forever job. After long searching, she found a new job working with a group promoting Catholic schools, her passion. Life doesn’t always turn out this well but it does often enough that I cling to my faith in what Luke says: “Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?” So go ahead and pester God, just like you did your parents. Jesus tells us to and that’s good enough for me. |