Deacon Larry

Thursday of the 27^th Week in Ordinary Time

Mal 3: 13-20b; Luke 11: 5-13

Dc. Larry Brockman

So, “evildoers prosper and even tempt God with impunity”? Such was the observation of the worldly folks of Malachi’s time as they lamented how vain it was to follow the Lord!

Indeed, today’s world is full of people who express the same cynical sentiments because some people tire easily of living the life God gave them, and so, they take matters into their own hands rather than trusting in God and his way. It’s the end that justifies the means for them, so, they do it their way, even if the tactics are not very Christian.

Perhaps a few examples would help: some people cheat on tests, even have someone else take a test for them; or copy other folks work and use it as their own. Some run cash businesses and hide a good portion of their income from taxes. Some people will buy an item, use it one time, and then return it to the store. And there are folks who lie whenever it serves their interests. or bully people to get their way.

I hear other people talk about these kinds of things often; even boasting of their exploits. They are like the people of Malachi’s time. Those who avoid these shameful practices are ridiculed as fools. And just like the people if Malachi’s time, most of these evil people would say to the Lord: “When have we spoken against you”? And so, the honest and faithful people of God seem sometimes to be left behind; and are frustrated by the apparent success of the evil doers.

This morning we hear God’s answers to this dilemma. First, in due time, God will see that justice is served. Those who are loyal to God’s word “Will experience the healing rays of the sun of justice; but the proud and the evildoers will be reduced to stubble”. Such is the main point made by Malachi.

And in fact we see this happen all the time in real life. Sooner or later, the cheaters, liars, and bullies experience justice because there are consequences to everyone’s actions. God’s justice escapes no one.

Second, God rewards those who are faithful and persistent in their efforts. Notice I said faithful and persistent. The parable Jesus tells makes this point in an interesting way. At first glance the neighbor appears to be pestering his friend for the three loaves of bread. But on closer examination of Jesus words, we get another impression because there are two important elements at play in the exchange between them. First, familiarity. Jesus makes it clear that these neighbors are also friends. This wasn’t some casual neighbor who knocked on the door; rather, it was a friend who was rousting his neighbor in the middle of the night. The word “friend” implies familiarity, the kind of familiarity that accompanies a faithful relationship.

Just so, we need to be familiar in our relationship with God. That means a frequent and faithful relationship with him in prayer so that when we need something, we are asking within the context of that familiar relationship with God. We are not just communicating with God when we need something; but rather, within the context of abiding faith.

And the second element is persistence. Now this is not an irritating kind of persistence. Rather, it is the kind of persistence that we can all identify with in a good friend; a confident, trusting persistence that goes along with the friendship. It is the kind of persistence one embraces when one trusts that the giver will come through and with the best he has. Indeed, we need to always trust that our persistent prayers have been heard and that God has given us only the best.

The world is full of cynical folks who will say or do anything to get their way. But we are called to be faithful and persistent followers of Jesus who believe that God always gives us the very best for us.