When
Jesus had finished praying, one of his disciples said to him,
“Lord, teach us how to pray.” So Jesus told them,
“Pray in this way:
‘Father,
help us to honor your name. come and set up your kingdom.
Give us each day the food we need. Forgive our sins, as we
forgive everyone who has done wrong to us. And keep us from
being tempted.’”
Then
Jesus went on to say: Suppose one of you goes to a friend
in the middle of the night and says, “Let me borrow
three loaves of bread. A friend of mine has dropped in, and
I don’t have a thing for him to eat.” And suppose
your friend answers. “Don’t bother me! The door
is bolted, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get
up to give you something.”
He may not get up and give you the bread, just because you
are his friend. But he will get up and give you as much as
you need, simply because you are not ashamed to keep on asking.
So I tell you to ask and you will receive, search and you
will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. Everyone
who asks will receive, everyone who searches will find, and
the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Which one
of our fathers would give your hungry child a snake if the
child asked for a fish? Which one of you would give your child
a scorpion if the child asked for an egg? As bad as you are,
you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But
your heavenly Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit
to anyone who asks.