A sermon delivered by Mary Rathbone on the Parable of the Persistent Neighbour at a Choral Evensong in July 2024 by Mary Rathbone.
A few weeks ago I was talking to our new Curate about how I would like to develop my prayer life.
She very kindly offered to loan me an excellent book she had discovered on the subject of prayer.
As I took it from her I mentioned that I was peaching at the next choral evensong, but on an odd parable about someone knocking on his neighbour’s door at midnight asking for loaves of bread.
I have no idea what it means I told her, so I must start my research on it soon.
Guess what my research quickly discovered? The parable is all about the importance of prayer!
The Parable of the Persistent Neighbour : Luke 11:5-13
The disciples had asked Jesus to teach them about prayer, and he first gave them the Lord’s prayer to use. Then he offered a short example of the importance of both bold and persistent prayer.
Some Cultural Background
Most people, in those days, lived in very spartan dwellings, perhaps only one, or two rooms and a window, with the front door always open, but locked tightly at night as a sign they should not be disturbed.
Because the parents with all their children would sleep on the floor alongside each other, and possibly also alongside their animals too – their hens and goats.
So for the householder to arise and open the door at midnight would awaken everyone.
But, on the other hand, offering a visiting friend hospitality was a sacred duty in those days too.
To not have provided a visitor with ample food and accommodation would bring shame upon the family.
Midnight Arrivals
It might seem odd today that a friend would arrive at midnight. But many travellers in the Middle-Est in those times travelled by night to avoid the harsh afternoon sun.
So arriving at midnight, seeking food and accommodation from a friend was probably a normal practise.
Jesus likens the neighbour who was awoken, with a request for bread to God. Meaning we can likewise call on him in prayer at any time of day or night. He is always available to hear our prayers.
The Key to the Parable is Unashamed Persistence and Boldness
The neighbour wanting bread for his visiting friend demonstrated all these things.
The sleepy neighbour being petitioned with the request, at the worst time possible for him helped, not because he was a good neighbour and friend, but because of the boldness and persistence of the request.
So too we must be relentlessly bold and persistent in our prayers
This is the essence of the lesson Jesus was giving his disciples.
Seven Ways to Pray – Written by Amy Boucher Pye
Is the book on prayer that our Curate kindly loaned me.
The author describes in it how she felt, for many years, that her prayers were driven by a feeling of obligation, duty, fear and guilt.
But over time she says she began to understand there was so much more to prayer.
She began to understand it as a way to practice receiving, resting in and then responding to, the love of God. Which is, after all, the purpose of prayer.
I have selected three ways, from the book, which were new to me,and have been practising them this week, with encouraging results.
- When we read the bible prayerfully, we can draw closer to God, and feel his presence through the words of the prophets and apostles.
I have had surprising insights revealed to me when I prayerfully pondered on the words in the bible - How often do we say prayers in a rush and are then immediately onto the next thing?
Mother Theresa once asked what she said during prayer. She simply said; I listen. Then when asked how God responded, she said; he listens too.
Let us be great listeners like the neighbour of the persistent man. Listening for God is a remarkably peaceful practise - The Bible is full of people calling out to God in their pain, also known as lamenting, Jesus too lamented as he died on the cross.
Today we can call out in our pain to God, which is just as real today as it was in biblical times.
The Psalms have some beautiful prayers of lamentation in which we can find comfort during dire times.
Reflection on the Parable of the Persistent Neighbour : Luke 11:5-13
It’s never too late to investigate different ways to commune with God.
There is not only one way to pray, there are many, and we are all different in what works best for us.
The important thing is to be both bold and shamelessly persistent, as we seek God’s presence.
In the way the man requesting bread in the middle of the night from his neighbour was.
In turn, nothing is too difficult for God to deal with, and he hears our prayers and will respond in his time. Amen.
More Hope in Jesus prayer blogs:
The Serenity Prayer
The Surrender Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
St Francis Prayer
A Prayer for Healing
