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.... – Matthew 7:7-8

I believe in the principle of “ask and you shall receive.” When I was single, I said I wanted to get married. Sure enough, God gave me a boyfriend, who became my husband. A year into marriage, I said I wanted a baby so my husband prayed for a son. Now we have a very good-looking boy! We asked for a car after that, and when our kid was around two years old, we got our first car through very friendly payment terms.

       I’m grateful for these answered prayers. What I didn’t think about were the responsibilities that came with them. In our marriage, my husband and I have to keep things going, “for better or for worse.” As a mom, I have to provide constant care and attention to my son. A car has many demands, too: gas, maintenance, tune-ups, cleaning — the list goes on.

       When we ask the Lord for answers to our prayers, we have to be prepared to take care of the things we will receive or the situations we’ll find ourselves in. God is good, but He will only give us what is good for us, what will bring us closer to Him.

Reflection: Have you thought about what will happen when God answers your prayer? It’s a good thing to be prepared!

Dear God, grant me the wisdom to ask for the things You’d want for me so that I may continue to live for You when You answer my prayer.

St. Leander of Seville, pray for us.

I am sure there has been at least one time in our lives when we have been afraid, for one reason or another, to do what we know we should do in a particular situation. If so, then we can sympathize with Esther, who knows she must take her life in her hands and appeal to her husband for the sake of her people. The stakes are enormous — the welfare of a nation on one hand and her own life on the other. Let us pray for the grace to always do what we know to be the right thing.

28 [C:12] Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the Lord. 30 [C:14] She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said: “God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, 31 [C:15] for I am taking my life in my hand. 32 [C:16] As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers that you, O Lord, always free those who are pleasing to you. 39 [C:23] Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O Lord, my God. And now, come to help me, an orphan. 40 [C:24] Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion, and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy, so that he and those who are in league with him may perish. 41 [C:25] Save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness.”

1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; 2 I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name. (R) Because of your kindness and your truth; for you have made great above all things your name and your promise. 3 When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me. (R) 7 Your right hand saves me. 8 The Lord will complete what he has done for me; your kindness, O Lord, endures forever; forsake not the work of your hands. (R)

If at first you do not succeed, try and try again. Perseverance is a great trait that enables us to follow God’s call in the midst of our struggles and trials. We can be sure that we will encounter difficulties. This should not cause us to lose heart but see it as an opportunity to deepen our trust and faith in God’s promises.

A clean heart create for me, God; give me back the joy of your salvation.

7 Jesus said to his disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, 10 or a snake when he asks for a fish? 11 If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. 12 “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”

think: Perseverance is a great trait that enables us to follow God’s call in the midst of our struggles and trials.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Genesis 1-3

The readings today present a unified theme of prayer. In the First Reading, Queen Esther prays to God for deliverance against the advancing enemies. The Responsorial Psalm is a thanksgiving for answered prayers: “Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.” In the Gospel, Jesus bids us never to tire in beseeching God for our needs. Like any good father who wishes what is best and truly good for his children, so is our heavenly Father.

       Prayer is not simply an efficacious formula we declare when we want to and need to. There is a subjective disposition that needs to accompany such a declaration. Let me clarify.

       In the Bible, for example, we hear a declaration of the true identity of Jesus from a very unlikely source, an unclean spirit: “I know who you are — the holy One of God!” In response to such a declaration, Jesus rebuked the evil spirit sharply and commanded, “Be quiet! Come out of the man!” Jesus obviously was not flattered by the declaration.

       In some other parts of the Gospel narratives, Peter also declared in behalf of the Twelve, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Unlike the case of the man possessed by the unclean spirit, Jesus welcomed the declaration and commended Peter for it.

       Both Peter and the evil spirit made the same declaration. But the same declaration received a different response from Jesus. What accounts for the difference? The evil spirit simply made a declaration of fact. Peter made a declaration of faith, borne out of love.

       Every time we go to Church, we profess and declare our faith in the living God. But we are not simply there to declare a fact. God does not need to be reminded of the fact of His Divinity. God longs to hear a declaration of faith and love from His children. When we declare it in faith, it is not God who benefits. It is then that our prayers receive a hearing from God. So what will it be for your prayer: a declaration of fact or faith? Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: When you recite the Apostle’s Creed at Mass, is your mind, heart and will engaged in the words that come out of your mouth?

God our Father, You are the source of everything. You know that I love You.