The Insistent Friend
JESUS MAFA, 1973
My dear friends,
Today's passage from the Gospel of Luke provides a deep wellspring of wisdom, touching the very heart of our human experience. It captures the essence of spiritual interdependence, compassion, and the unending bond between the seeker and the divine.
and after he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray,
as John taught his disciples."
He said to them,
"When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive
everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial."
- Luke 11:1-4
When Jesus' disciple asks for guidance on how to pray, it is a call that resonates across religions and traditions. We all yearn for a way to connect with the ineffable, the divine energy that binds the universe. Jesus responds with a simplified version of what we now know as the Lord’s Prayer. The essence of this prayer is a harmonious balance between reverence for the divine, a call for sustenance, a plea for forgiveness, and a desire for guidance.
In Buddhism, as in Christianity, we acknowledge the impermanent nature of our lives and the suffering inherent in our existence. Jesus' emphasis on "daily bread" is a call to be present, to find contentment and gratitude in the everyday, and to understand that every day is an opportunity for spiritual growth and renewal.
"Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him,
'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived,
and I have nothing to set before him.'
And he answers from within,
'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed;
I cannot get up and give you anything.'
I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend,
at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs."
- Luke 11:5-8
The parable of the friend at midnight highlights a profound truth: the path of spiritual discovery requires persistence. This determination is found in many traditions. In Buddhism, for instance, one must persevere in meditation, in compassionate actions, and in seeking enlightenment.
It is not simply friendship that compels the man inside the house to act, but the relentlessness of the seeker. Similarly, in our spiritual journeys, it is often our unwavering commitment that breaks through barriers.
Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.
For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
- Luke 11:9-10
The profound wisdom in "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you" is universal. This aligns with the Buddhist understanding of the Law of Cause and Effect. When we earnestly seek, with a pure heart and clear intention, the universe responds. Doors open. Paths appear.
Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
- Luke 11:11-13
Jesus beautifully illustrates the innate goodness and compassion of the divine. Despite our flaws and imperfections, we, as humans, still strive to be kind, to give, and to care. If we, with our limited understanding and imperfections, can be compassionate, how infinitely more compassionate is the divine source from which we arise?
The final verse is particularly evocative, where the "heavenly Father" is said to give the "Holy Spirit" to those who ask. This mirrors the Buddhist belief in the Bodhisattva's vow, where enlightened beings vow to remain in the cycle of rebirth to assist all sentient beings towards enlightenment. The promise of the Holy Spirit, much like the assistance of Bodhisattvas, is a divine gift of guidance, strength, and wisdom.
This passage from Luke encourages us to seek, to persist, and to have faith in the compassionate nature of the divine. It underscores the universal truths that many spiritual traditions, including Buddhism, hold dear: the transformative power of sincere seeking, the boundless compassion of the divine, and the interconnectedness of all life.
May we all find the persistence to knock, the courage to ask, and the wisdom to receive.
May peace and blessings be upon all sentient beings.