Friar’s Corner: Knock, knock. Who’s there? Jesus

Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR

Genesis 18:20-32; Psalms 138:1-3, 6-8; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13

Is Jesus knocking on the “door of our heart”? There are several themes that one could follow with this week’s scriptures. I want to limit myself as not to be too long. The major difference between God relating to the Hebrews in the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament is a deeply personal message and response. Jesus came to earth to speak to God’s children (us), person to person. His public life, healings and teachings were very personal. He brought us into his kingdom by a baptism of water and the Holy Spirit. He forgave our sins and those of the entire human race by his suffering and death on the cross. He offers us a whole new way of life in his new kingdom of love, peace and joy.

God invites us to a personal response to him. It is not just an hour at Sunday Mass. It is a personal and daily communication. In St. Luke and St. Matthew’s Our Father prayer, we are invited to praise and honor God our Father. We ask for the coming of his kingdom on earth amidst the evil in the world. Then we ask for “daily bread.” God offers that to us each day of the year at the Eucharistic Liturgy, the Mass.

Then we ask for forgiveness of our many sins and unfaithfulness. As God forgives us through Jesus Christ, we are instructed to forgive all those who have injured us. And finally, we ask for the grace to not sin any more. This prayer is not complicated, is it? It is simple and deeply personal.

The Holy Spirit who was given to us at our Baptism allows us to call out to God, our Father, in a personal way. God created everything and he designed the plan that brought us into human life. Amen.

Knocking

St. Luke simply instructs us in chapter 11, as Abraham asked God for a favor, to ask and seek God for what we need. Our prayer of petition is the knocking. God knows all things that are going on in us, our world and the universe. He knows what we need. Yet like a good and loving parent wants to give us what is best for our health and growth. Because he knows the future, he knows that at times what we ask for will not be good for us in the long run. God wants to give us what is best for us and others.

Last week Luke told us the story about Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha. Mary loved Jesus and his visit, a personal experience. She just sat to listen and be absorbed in Jesus. That was deep and intimate prayer, communication. Several of you did that during this last week. It was just a little tip.

Sitting with Jesus

Amidst all the evil, mess and confusion the news reports each day, we can get depressed and fearful. When we sit with Jesus we can simply ask him to pour out more of his love on these various situations with confidence that he can and will do something. He died to save all of humanity.

I recommend a simple, short and effective prayer is one that Jesus taught St. Faustina in the early 1930s in Poland, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. If you don’t have it you can find it on the Internet. He told us with the new picture of himself, to get on one of the rays of Blood or Water that came from his pierced heart on the cross, and come directly into his heart. We are to trust his love for us. Have a beautiful week each day hiding a little in Jesus’ heart.

Blessings,

+  Father Bob Hilz
fbhilz@gmail.com

(© 2019 Father Bob Hilz, TOR)