Reflection for October 9 Thursday of the 27th Week in Ordinary Time: Luke 11:5-13

Gospel: Luke 11:5-13

Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘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,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘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.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

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Reflection:

Do we believe in the power of persistence? The power of persistence reminds us that as long as we don’t give up and continue to trust in Jesus, we will be able to achieve what we desire according to His will. Persistence always pays off. But should we continue to persist when the horizon is dark and everything seems uncertain?

 In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that we must persist even when it seems hopeless, for those who persist are always rewarded by God. If we look closely at our daily lives, we will realize that persistence brings great rewards, even in ordinary matters. Take, for example, an average student who persists in his studies. Because he remains steadfast and determined, he will surely overcome his academic challenges. In the same way, when we persist in our faith, God’s grace sustains us.

However, not all of us have a persistent mindset. Many times, we easily grow discouraged when we don’t see immediate or positive results. So we fail and fall short of achieving what we hope for because we give up too soon—without giving our very best.

Lest we forget, many—if not all—of life’s battles are won because we are persistent. But why do we persist? We persist because we believe that God rewards those who persevere with humble and expectant trust in Him. When our trust in God fuels our persistence, we don’t just endure—we grow stronger, we deepen our faith, and we become more aligned with His divine will.

In moments when everything seems dark and uncertain, persistence anchored in faith becomes a powerful act of trust. It’s in these moments that God shapes our character, strengthens our hope, and draws us closer to His heart.

 Are we willing to persist in faith, hope, and love even when the road ahead seems difficult and unclear? Will we allow our trust in Jesus to sustain us until His promise unfolds in our lives? — Marino J. Dasmarinas