12 July 2025

In one of his parables, Jesus says, ‘Ask and it will be given to 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.’

Persistence in prayer is an honourable and worthwhile occupation. Here Jesus promises a good outcome for those who never give up pestering God with their petitions. Whilst I agree with the heart of the parable, I did not avail myself of its promise.

Last Saturday, our younger son was married in our garden. It was a great honour for us to prepare the garden for this profound event. However, there was some agony attached to it. What if it rained? We had a contingency plan. We would have squeezed the twenty-seven guests into our house! Seats for everyone!

For two weeks before the wedding, I was examining closely, the long-term weather forecast. It started out well – full sun on Day 14. But it quickly disintegrated into half sun and then no sun. The temperature stabilised at 18’ but wind was forecast and cloud. Eventually a dark cloud appeared at 4pm in Day 1!

Despite the threat and the need for prayer, I refused to pray for sunshine. My argument to Mary-Catherine was as follows. ‘I want to pray for sunshine, of course. But I know that some farmers want to pray for rain to nourish their crops. What will God do? Rain or sun? Choose me over the farmers!’

On the day, the wind blew, there was cloud in the sky but the sun kept on breaking through. When the couple made their vows, the clouds departed and bride and groom were enfolded in bright light. If I had prayed for this, I would have said, ‘My prayers were answered!’ As it happened, I couldn’t say that but, ‘This was an unsolicited  wedding gift from God!’

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