Bothering can work

Bothering can work

Your brother likes to tease you, so he pokes you until you yell. Your little sister wants you to play with her, so she follows you around until you do. You want to rent a video, so you beg your parents until they give in.

Bothering people isn't the best thing to do, but it can work - even with God! In this week's Gospel (Luke 18:1-8), Jesus tells how.

Jesus taught His disciples a story to help them remember to pray: "A woman went to a judge over and over again to help her win against someone in court. The judge finally decided, 'She'll bother me forever unless I help her!' So he did. Just like that, won't God help you when you ask over and over? I tell you, God will help."

Why won't your brother and sister leave you alone? They know that even if you get angry, you're paying attention to them, and that's what they want.

That's also what people want when they pray. They want God to listen - and to get an answer to their prayers. They want God to pay attention.

Getting mad at your sister probably isn't the kind of attention she wants. But bothering people can work in good ways: Your parents get tired of your begging to rent a video, so they let you pick one.

Bothering God can work, too. The woman in Jesus' story proved she was really serious about winning by bothering a judge about it until he gave in. Praying about something a lot is a way of showing God you're really serious about it, that you really want help.

If your brother bothers you until you yell, it's not good. Sometimes, the answers God gives to our prayers aren't what we want, either. But bothering someone (even God) always makes the person do one thing: pay attention!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me remember to bother you when I need you! Amen.