The Holy Courage: The Boldness of Prayer and the Generosity of God

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time(Year C): July 27, 2025

Readings: Genesis 18:20–32; Psalm 138:1–3, 6–8; Colossians 2:12–14; Luke 11:1–13

 To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/wepJyRaSB3s

Prayer is a conversation with God. Prayer is opening oneself to the mercy of God. When we realize that we are made of finite, limited, mortal and dependent beings, naturally, there is an inner urge to look for something eternal, immortal, infinite, unlimited and independent. That is where we find the fulfilment of our lives. Only a higher being can satisfy our wants and needs. All that we hope to achieve is possible only by the grace of God. The readings of today are very special. They emphasize the breadth and depth of God, and moreover, the capacities of God. Even long ago, Abraham, the Father of Faith, made great strides in trying to convince God, in order, to save the cities in which he lived, namely Sodom and Gomorrah. On the other hand, Jesus teaches his disciples the simple truths of prayer. As we delve deeper into the readings of today, we see how God is truly caring for us.

1. “Lord, teach us to pray.”

St Luke writes (Luke 11:1–13) about the tender request made by one of Jesus' disciples. This request stems from a deeper longing and intimate connection with the Divine. The disciple did not ask, “Teach us how to preach,” or “Teach us how to perform miracles,” but “Teach us to pray.” It reveals a desire for intimacy with God, a longing to dwell in the mystery of His presence. In other words, the disciples had seen their master praying. So they wanted to imitate him, for they had seen the power of prayer in his preaching and healing. Often the world reminds us of our failures, inadequacies, and debts but Jesus gives us the liberating truth: You are not your past. You are not your mistakes. In Christ, your story has been rewritten.

In response, Jesus gifts the world with the Lord’s Prayer, a profound yet simple pattern for all prayer—rooted in relationship. He speaks about “Father”—not a distant deity, but one who is near, loving, and attentive. Interestingly, Jesus does not give instructions about how to stand, hold hands, lower eyes or prostrate. He does not even give lists of words or ideas. Jesus  gives them a prayer rooted in the ancient Jewish forms. It's a prayer which indeed brings holiness on the earth by praying to the most holy God. 

2. Prayer begins by being bold to ask

While teaching the prayer "Our Father" Jesus encourages them to pray persistently, like a friend knocking at midnight. It’s a beautiful human image—impatient, inconvenient, even annoying. God listens to our repeated prayers. He welcomes us. Jesus assures us that the Father gives not just what is asked, but something far better: the Holy Spirit. It is nothing but the presence of God Himself. In the noise of our world, Jesus invites us to simple, bold, childlike trust: Ask… seek… knock. In a culture obsessed with material blessings, Jesus gives us the greatest gift of all - the Prayer.

For many, it might be difficult to pray to a Father who is distant when they themselves have experienced broken fatherhood or distant authority. However, Jesus reorients us toward a God whose heart beats with compassion and care. The Father that Jesus speaks about is of mercy, who will always be with us. Jesus invites us to knock boldly, to seek with yearning hearts, and to ask without fear. God is not annoyed by our repeated prayers; He is moved by them. Prayer is not about changing God's mind—it is about opening our hearts to receive what God already longs to give.

3. The Prayer that Dares to Argue with God

As a perfect example of what we have been saying above, we see in Genesis 18:20–32, Abraham’s intercession for Sodom and Gomorrah. God plans to destroy these two cities because of the abundance of wickedness of people. It is not just a plea—it’s a bold conversation that pushes the limits of what it means to care for others even to the point of irritating! Abraham negotiates, bargains, and dares to ask the unthinkable: “Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”

This scene feels strangely modern. It echoes the voices of people who stand in the gap—activists, teachers, healthcare workers, parents—who plead for mercy, justice, and hope in the face of collective failures. Abraham teaches us that prayer is not a passive activity. It’s an act of holy courage, grounded in a deep trust in the character of God. It is to pray with trust, live with openness, and relate to God as children do to a loving parent—with wonder, dependence, and joy.

Questions for reflections:

1. Do we truly believe that God is a loving Father who delights in our presence?
2. Do we persist in prayer, or give up too quickly when answers seem delayed?
3. What are we afraid to ask for? Can we sing songs of gratitude even when our hearts are burdened? 

Concluding Prayer

Lord, teach us to pray with honesty like Abraham, with gratitude like the psalmist, with the freedom of those raised in Christ, and with the boldness of midnight knockers. Renew our hearts this Sunday. May we believe once again that you are listening, loving, and ready to answer with more than we can ask or imagine. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name,  Amen.

- Olvin Veigas, SJ

25 July 2025