Wednesday 20 November 2013

The Midnight Caller



“Parable: The Midnight Caller”
Luke 11:5-8
            In our world of instant messaging, texting and always being available by phone this story of the midnight caller seems somewhat irrelevant to us because no matter what time it is, messages are given shared and received via communication phone lines, internet , television and radio. It used to be abnormal to receive any kind of communication after 9 p.m. or before 8 a.m. but today, since one may communicate with another without actually speaking messages can be given and received without second thought. But is this a good practice or should this only be reserved for certain individuals those family members and closest of friends? Such is the case in Jesus’ story.
“Suppose one of you has a friend and he goes to him at midnight and says, “Friend lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.”
            The person inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.” I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
            In the time of Jesus’ story, the friend who is in bed has the doors locked and he and his children are bedded down for the night in their one room house. If he were to answer the door he would wake the whole family and yet when the friend seeking food comes to the door there is a sense of urgency present. In order to meet his guest’s needs of hunger, he counts on his friend to supply what he does not have. And the friend helps because he is a friend and knows that he would not ask if it weren’t important.
            This parable reminds us that God never tells us I’m busy, or sleeping or not available to hear our prayers. God is always ready to listen when we are in need of Him. But we should also be praying to God not only in times of crisis but every day so that our crises may be better controlled and understood. How well do you know your Father in heaven? Do you feel that you could speak to God any time? Do you? God asks us to open our hearts and minds to pray and when we do this we will God will respond in our silent minds and hearts. But we must be willing- to open the door of our heart and listen to God’s voice.

PRAYER:
Loving God we ask you to listen to our prayer for others and for ourselves. Enable us to show our love for you through what we share and do with and for others. Call us to prayer and speak to our hearts. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

BLOG QUESTION
Jesus’ parable of the midnight caller reminds us that God is always willing to hear us and answer our prayer no matter what time. He loves us and knows that what we pray is important to us and so he will answer. But we must be willing to share and show our love of God. This may be done in how we show compassion for others. Hear us we pray. O God and enable us to grow in you. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

5 comments:

  1. Hazel Peterson I have done this several times. Neighbours need assistance when they need it, not according to the time on the clock. Local Christians told me that they wouldn't go to the door in the night because it could be dangerous. What response could I make to that? It would be dangerous to ignore a neighbour who is bleeding. It would be dangerous to not let in a woman who was being severely harrased. It would be dangerous to not call for an ambulance when a neighbour's baby was nearly born.

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  2. This used to happen to farmers quite often. Someone would be stuck in the ditch and wanted a tow with a tractor. Now they are wary about doing this because they could be charged for putting an impaired driver on the road.

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  3. Our weirdest experience was when we were living in Wainwright in the early 90's. We had our porch light on and Block Parent sign out, and an older woman showed up about 11 at night saying her daughter was trying to poison her. The adult daughter showed up shortly thereafter. We had never met either one before....We ended up calling an ambulance, and it turned out that the mother had had a recent change in medication, and was reacting badly. She probably did feel she was being poisoned. With a change in medication she was fine.

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  4. The time was a little different. 5am and snowing. 2 young girls banged on door. The youngest was in bare feet. The elder was pregnant.I didn't think twice. I let them in. Her feet were white and both of them had been drinking and the older dragged the younger from a party somewhere. I found large socks and large canvass shoes. They called a cab and went home. I often wondered if she needed hospital care but they assured me someone was home. All I could think is what if that was my daughter or granddaughter. As I was going to church the next morning early , I thought of home invasions etc. but at the time I thought of frozen feet.

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  5. By the way, our next door neighbour did come to the door yesterday - wanted to borrow a cup of butter or margarine - came back an hour later with cookies :)

    In the modern day, the neighbour might phone first - but the response is the same.

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