Global Christian Worship

James B. Janknegt is a leading artist who lives in Texas. He often portrays biblical scenes in contemporary contexts, such as his (2014) painting of last Sunday’s Gospel reading in the lectionary, Luke 11:1-13.

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James’ painting, and the responsive reading below, draw specifically from the latter half of this passage, which follows Jesus’ teaching “The Lord’s Prayer” to his disciples. After that … [verses 5-13]

Teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ⁶ ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ ⁷ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ ⁸ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

⁹ “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹ “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? ¹² Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! ¹³ So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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“I have a sacramental view of the cosmos in which the grand overarching story mingles with my personal stories, beliefs and ideas and ends up as colors and shapes on a canvas. My painting is autobiographical but infused with the larger narrative of God interrupting time and space.”

– James B. Janknegt in an interview at
http://www.bcartfarm.com/davis.html

Follow James’ art at
https://www.facebook.com/James-B-Janknegt-178939350026/?fref=nf

and see his website at
http://www.bcartfarm.com/

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On the same scripture passage, Fran Pratt - also in the area of Austin, Texas - published yet another marvelous litany in response. 

Read her personal reflections here; I’m reposting only the last part here plus her marvelous responsive reading.
http://www.franpratt.com/litanies/2016/7/21/litany-for-persistence

…. “For everyone who asks receives; those who seek find; and to those who knock, the door will be opened.”

I wonder if any of us have gotten tired of asking. Or ashamed of being so needy. Especially those of us who are interested in asking for things like peace, racial reconciliation, an end to violence, and healing and rest for those who have been traumatized by evil. I wonder if we are starting to feel that God is sleeping and doesn’t feel like coming to the door. I wonder if we would do well to be reminded to keep asking even though we feel ashamed, or doubtful, or fearful, or like we don’t even know which door to knock on.

Let me be clear: I don’t think God is sleeping. I’m just saying it might be easy for us to project onto God that God might be sleeping, that God is grumpy or curmudgeonly (or an exhausted parent who has finally gotten the kids to bed and just doesn’t want to deal with anyone else’s problems) and doesn’t want to answer the door, drag Godself to the kitchen to rustle up yet more bread for yet another needy person. No. Jesus says God will give us good things (verse 13).

I don’t think God is annoyed with the prayers of God’s friends. (I think God also welcomes the prayers of folks who don’t consider themselves God’s friends.) I think God is sad about all the bad stuff happening in the world, and has endless grace and love for us all, victim and perpetrator alike. And I do think, in some ways, that it is the middle of a long, dark, night. How gracious for Jesus to offer to let us ask and receive even then, and to remind us that it is when we will need the most persistence and audacity in prayer.

Litany for Persistence (Fran Pratt)

God of heaven and earth,
We exalt you.

Some of us have grown tired of asking
for peace, for reconciliation.
Some of us have grown tired of hearing bad news
of evil and pain.

Yet you encourage us
to keep asking,
keep seeking,
keep knocking.

In a long, dark night, full of evil,
we are knocking on your door,
we ask again for your kingdom to come;
we ask again for peace.

Hear the prayers of your people,
Give bread to all,
comfort those who mourn,
allow the weary to rest,
encourage the disheartened,
show us the path to peace.

May we not grow weary of doing good,
and keep on praying shamelessly and boldly.
May our faith grow, and peace reign in our hearts,
even in darkest night.

Amen

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For Fran’s guidelines on using her litanies, see
http://www.franpratt.com/use-a-litany/

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This painting on the scripture passage is titled ‘The Persistent Friend’ and is from the ‘Jesus Mafa’ project of Cameroon/France:

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This painting of the biblical passage is by Nelly Bube of Kazakhstan. The title is ‘A Friend in a Need and the Widow and the Judge.’ The first parable is on the left side of her painting and the second parable is on the right side.

Nelly Bube was born in 1949 in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. In 2000, she began illustrating the Bible and painted 30 pictures including 40 parables taught by Jesus Christ.