GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XI.
7. And he from within shallanswer and say,
Troubleme not: thedoor isnow shut,and my chil
drenarewith me inbed ; I cannotriseand givethee.
8. I say unto you, Though he willnot riseand
givehim, becausehe ishisfriend,yet becauseof his
importunityhe willriseand givehim as many as he
needeth.
CYRIL. The Saviour had beforetaught,in answer to the
request of His apostles,how men ought to pray. But it
might happen that those who had receivedthiswholesome
teaching,poured forththeirprayersindeed accordingto the
form given to them, but carelesslyand languidly,and then
when they were not heard in the firstor second prayer,left
offpraying. That thisthen might not be our case,He shews
by means of a parahle,that cowardice in our prayers is
hurtful,but itisof greatadvantageto have patiencein them.
Hence it is said,And He saysunto them, Which ofyou shall
have a friend. THEOPHYL. God isthatfriend,who lovethall
men, and willsthatallshould be saved. AMBROSE. Who is
a greaterfriendto us,than He who deliveredup His body
for us ? Now we have here another kind of command given
us,thatat alltimes,not onlyin the day,but at night,prayers
should be offeredup. For itfollows,And shallgo unto him
Ps.119, at midnight. As David did when he said,At midnight
62' / willriseand givethanksuntoThee. For he had no fear
of awakening them from sleep,whom he knew to be ever
watching. For if David who was occupied also in the
necessaryaffairsof a kingdom was so holy,that seven times
Ps.H9, in the day he gave praiseto God, what ought we to do,
who ought so much the more to pray,as we more frequently
sin,through the weakness of our mind and body ? But if
thou lovestthe Lord thy God, thou wiltbe able to gain fa
vour, not only for thyself,but others. For itfollows,And
Aug. say unto him, Friend,lend me threeloaves,§-c. AUG. But
""' 'what are these three loaves but the food of the heavenly
mystery? For it may be that one has had a friendasking
for what he cannot supply him with, and then findsthat
he has not what he is compelled to give. A friend then