THURSDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT
Everyone who asks receives.
The Word: "At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7ff.)
Mystery of the day: Luminous
Table of the Word: Table of the Word: I R.: Esther 14:1.3-4.11.13-14
Resp. Psalm: Psalm 138:1-2a.2bcd-3.7d-8 (R. 3a)
Verse before the Gospel: see Psalm 51:10a.12a
Gospel: Matthew 7:7-12
Inspiration: In moment where life seems to be blue, difficulties and challenges set in from all angles, one thing gives meaning and hope and that is "God's Word". Man right from creation has been fragile and always dependent upon God. And God on the other hand has never abandoned him to the whims and caprices of evil one. The story of Queen Esther in the Hebrew Testament (Old Testament) is not strange to Christians, it is that story which glows the mind with joy and gladness as the Lord listens to the prayer of His people.
Absolutely, there is nothing we ask God that He refuses us. The problem we have is that, most often we misunderstood His answer, because that is not what we expected. God writes in crooked lines, that only the Holy Spirit will assist in interpreting it. A certain writer once said: “God answers our prayers in three ways: ‘Yes’, ‘Wait’ and then ‘No’” By implication, He says “Yes” when the request is within the ambience of our needs (our daily bread) as in the “The Lord’s Prayer” (cf. Matt. 6:9-13). On the second note, when He says: “Wait” it calls for perseverance, probably it is not yet the right time for the request to be granted. And the when He says: “No”; it therefore means that the request is not necessary; for He provides us with only necessity thus the phrase: “give us the daily bread” – which is the basic necessity of life, while the rest are want.
On this note that, Evangelist Matthew in today's gospel pericope reminded us of God's continuous assurance to be there for us:
"At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7ff.)
God is always faithful to His Word no matter the situation. In human calculation we may be thinking we are being abandoned because of the pains we go through, and the challenges we are facing etc. In fact, the thought of God's abandonment becomes "false" as He is always every now and then thinking about us.
His love and generousity are beyond measure as they transcend every human condition. As St. Paul in his second epistle to the Corinthians Church says: “God gives seed to farmers and provides everyone with food. He will increase what you have…” (2 Cor. 9:10) And St. James on the other hand says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God and it will be given him, for God is a generous giver.” (James 1:5).
Finally, beloved in Christ as Queen Esther cried and the Lord heard her. (cf. Esther 14:1ff.) God will never pay deaf ear to our cries for help. God every now and then invites us to Himself with our cares and worries with assurance to give us rest (cf. Matt. 11:28). Let us be convinced of God's love always as the psalmist proclaimed today: "On the day I called, You answered me, O God" (Psalm 138:3a). Peace be with you!
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
“Let us all resign ourselves into His hands, and pray that in all things He may guide us to do His Holy Will… when thoughts of this or that come I turn to Him and say: ‘Only what you will, my God. Use me as You will.’”
- Blessed Mary Mackillop
Let us pray
May the mercy we hoped for, O Lord, come to us who make supplication to you, and may the riches of heaven be given to us, that we may know what is right to ask and receive what we sought. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 22022024
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