The Door will be Opened – 24 July 2022

Luke 11:1–13

The way Jesus introduces the parable as it is told in the original Greek makes it clear that he knows his audience would find it unimaginable that the friend would not get up. The word—or words, rather—here translated as “suppose” really mean something more like, “Is it even remotely conceivable that . . .?” As in: “If you had a friend who came to you at midnight and said to you, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, because I have a friend who has come to me on a journey and I have nothing to feed him,’ is it even remotely conceivable that you could ever shout back, ‘Go away and don’t disturb me’?”

Jesus would know that, based on the rules of hospitality in his culture, the only answer that could be given by his hearers would be, “No, it is not remotely conceivable.” But even if it were culturally possible to refuse, the fact that the petitioner keeps on knocking—as Luke says, “shamelessly”—would make refusal doubly impossible. Even if he wanted to do so, even if he was willing to lose face and violate all the rules of hospitality, the only way to make the bothersome friend go away is to get up and gives him what he wants!

In short, what Jesus is saying here is that it is completely impossible for many reasons that the request will not be granted by the friend. And if we can say that a mere human being will certainly grant a request, even if it will inconvenience him and disturb his whole family to do so, how much more will God listen to the cries of those in need and come to their help? Indeed, God will do more than they even know how to ask for. –– Judy Buck-Glenn

Genesis 18:20–32

In the Genesis text we find we can converse with, challenge God, God listens and responds with love and compassion, the divine mind changed by the prayers of a mere mortal. What an amazing picture of God is painted in the story of Abraham. What is a modern example of how we challenge God, and how God responds? –– Robin Brown

Colossians 2:6–15 [16–19]

This Epistle asks us to “see that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit” by continuing “to live your lives” in Christ Jesus. How are we to imagine that? –– Melinda Quivik

We cannot overemphasize the importance of naming aloud what we seek, need, fear, cannot accept, long for, and so on, which serves to remind us of what is most important to us, and what we are willing to work for. Neil Douglas-Lotz writes: “The inner shrine by which God’s name is hallowed can be developed only through letting go, releasing some of the clutter inside”. . . calling us to listen to ourselves as we pray in order to fully comprehend, and make room for what we are seeking.

That which we ask for and seek may change when we connect the asking with the responsibility entailed. The relationship we create through prayer and meditation is multifaceted as well as continuous. Once we state our longings, they become part of our being. –– Carol J. Noren

Robin K. Brown, a Lutheran pastor, is the Associate Director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal at the ELCA headquarters in Chicago.

Judith Buck-Glenn is associate rector at Christ Church Episcopal in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania.

Carol J. Noren, a United Methodist pastor, is professor emeritus of homiletics at North Park Theological Seminary. Her published works focus on worship and preaching.

Homily Service 40, no. 8 (2007): 39–47.