Reflection on Luke 11:1-13 – The Persistent Neighbor
Let’s imagine that you are living in a small city in the Holy Land in the first century. You have just finished your dinner, put the kids to sleep, and are on your way to bed. The time is around 11:30 pm, it’s been a long day, and you are tired from spending all day fishing, cooking, and cleaning. Just as we blow out the candle, we hear a knock on your door – Bang…bang…bang. “Hey, it’s Joshua! Are you awake?! I need a place to stay for the night.” At first, you wish you were dreaming, so you didn’t have to leave your warm, cozy bed. But you want to help your good friend out. So, you put on your sandals, open the door and welcome him into your house. You notice that he is with his two sons, the youngest half asleep in Joshua’s arms.
You prepare a place for them to stay, but they are starving. They ran out of food on their long journey and ask you for some bread before they unpack and retire for the night. The problem is that you and your family ate the last loaves of bread for dinner, and there is no way to bake a new loaf or go to the market at night. So, you have an idea; you promise Joshua that you will be right back. You grab a lantern and head out into the streets to your friend Adam’s house, knowing he had a big family party tonight and likely has extra bread in the pantry.
It is very dark, but the lantern you are holding and the enormous full moon light the uneven dirt road you walk on. There is a cool breeze, and a few stray cats pass you, and the sound of the crickets is the only thing that breaks the silence. Finally, you reach Adam’s house and knock on his door; it is midnight. Adam’s bedroom window is on the second floor and his window is open. The room is dark; he, his wife, and the kids are all in a deep sleep. At first, you speak softly, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine, has arrived at my house from a journey, and I have nothing to offer him.”
Adam wakes up and says through the window, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.”
But you remember the tired and hungry look on your friend Joshua and his son’s face, how they need a little bread to eat. So you bang louder and louder, yelling, “Adam, I know you have extra bread; please help out your friend.” Still nothing.
Shameless and unconcerned if the kids wake up, you knock louder, this time with two hands…Bang…Bang…Bang. “I’m not leaving until you help me out. I will be here all night. Please, I am desperate.”
Adam gets angry as his wife wakes up and wonders what is happening. Their baby begins to cry. He yells, “Go away, I will give you the bread tomorrow, I’m trying to sleep!!”
You aren’t budging because you know that having hospitality and helping others in need is more important than anything. You are committed at this point, and you actually begin to laugh because you recognize how ridiculous this all looks. But you don’t care; you are persisting and keep knocking and boldly requesting help. Finally, Adam gives in. He yells out, “Fine! You win.” A candlelight soon flickers in his room, and a smile comes across your face.
Adam comes downstairs, opens the door, shakes his head, and quickly gives you three loaves of bread. He says, “You are relentless, huh?! You are lucky I had some bread left over, or this would have been a big waste of time. My wife is upset, my kids are awake, I’m going to be in the dog house now.” You pithily reply, “Yeah, but you did the right thing. You helped out your pal. I guess my persistence paid off.” Adam replies, “Yeah, giving you the bread was the only way to get you to go home.” You briefly shake hands and return home with a feeling of victory, happy to bring bread to your hungry visitors.
By Deacon John Garabedian