Word to the Wise
Thursday, February 25, 2021 - 1st Week of Lent - Thurs
[Esth C:12, 14-16, 23-25 and Matt 7:7-12]"Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good thighs to those who ask him." [Matthew]
Two questions come to my mind on reflection on these words from Jesus about perseverance in prayer. The first is about asking. Not all prayer is about asking, but when we do ask, what are the "good things" we should ask for? Since these words of Jesus are part of the Sermon on the Mount, and we have just read the words of the prayer that Jesus gave us, perhaps we might find a suggestion that "daily bread" and the ability to forgive others are "good things" to ask for. We might add the ability to resist the temptation to evil deeds.
However, our reflections might also include the necessity to maintain communication - i.e. pray always. They might include what we mean by "daily bread." We might look at all those whom we need to forgive or from whom we should ask for forgiveness. Jesus promises that prayers about these "good things" will definitely receive a positive response. We might recall that the Sermon on the Mount speaks often about motives and intentions in our actions, and this could apply to prayer as well. The WHY can be as important as the WHAT. Lastly, we might ask ourselves how generous are we with these "good things" when WE are asked by others? AMEN