Part of my testimony is the horrific experience of abuse: I was sexually abused when I was nine by a close relative. My healing journey consisted of therapy, counseling, journaling, and simply receiving love from important people in my life. 

But one event finally confirmed my healing: when I confronted my abuser in the most unexpected way, almost 20 years after the experience. He came rushing to our house one afternoon, screaming at me about a petty parking issue. It escalated to personal attacks on my family. It was obvious that he wanted to pick a fight if I shouted back. So I kept silent. When I finally had the courage to speak, I simply said: “I’m sorry this happened. We love you. I love you and your family.” I don’t know where those words came from, but after I stopped, he calmed down, apologized, and simply walked away. 

Yes, the apologies were not directly about the abuse. But in a world where victims and abusers never reconcile, this was grace enough to heal my heart. Migs Ramirez (emiguelframirez@gmail.com) 

reflect

What grace do you need today? 

Father, I cannot go through life pretending I can do it myself. I rely on You alone. Save me today with Your merciful grace. Amen.

Saint Ansovinus, pray for us.

Queen Esther is a great example of faith and integrity at work. She is inspired to do what she must do and be faithful to her conscience. Even though seeking an audience with the king could mean her death, she still does so for the sake of bringing justice to her people. In the end, she is rewarded for her integrity and bravery. 

¹² Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, likewise had recourse to the Lord. 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, 15 for I am taking my life in my hand. 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. 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. 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. 25 Save us from the hand of our enemies; turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness.” 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 7-8

R: Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

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)

Gospel | Matthew 7:7-12

Jesus encourages us to pray for our needs. He wants us to be forthright and honest as we place our needs before Him. If God asks us to do something that may need help in carrying it out, then let us directly state these needs to Him. He knows our intention to obey Him. Should we fail to place our needs before Him, He also knows that we may not be really committed to obeying His Word.

Gospel Acclamation

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.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read GENESIS 7 - 9 today.

In the September 2023 licensure exams for teachers, only 47 percent of the 50,593 takers made it. Most certainly, those who did not pass the LET also prayed for success. Statistics say there were 531,065 deaths in 2023. Definitely, the relatives of those who passed away also pleaded to God for their loved one’s healing.

To believe in Jesus’ assurance that we simply need to ask and expect to receive, yet not get what we pray for, can cause disillusionment. And when we believe that what our seemingly ungranted prayer is the best thing for us or for our loved ones, we conclude that God does not really love us because He did not grant our request. We also generalize that not getting what we asked for is God’s denial because we do not deserve it, or we are being punished for our sins. If our measure of God’s love is that He answers all our desires and prayers, then we have remained immature in our understanding and concept of the Father.

When Jesus adds the statement about fathers not giving a stone when children ask for bread clarifies this seeming inconsistency. God does not always give us what we ask. He only grants what is best for us at the moment. What Jesus reminds us is that we entrust our needs to the Father and believe that He always provides what will authentically delight us. This goes without saying that the foundation to this is that the Father loves and cares for us.

When Jesus encourages us to ask without ceasing, He is not saying that God will align His will to our will. Rather, in the process of persistent begging, we gradually align our will to His will! Lent is a good time to practice this. Fr. Bros Flores, SJ

reflection question

How do you feel when God does not grant what you prayed for? 

Lord Jesus, may I learn to persistently and obediently desire to align my will to the Father’s will. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________