The WORD today reminds me that God will give me my desires as long as they would be good for me and are according to God's great plans.
The first reading shows us a child of God coming to Him in prayer. Queen Esther comes to God with her petitions and opens up herself to God. She is desperate, and put her faith on God. And we see in the gospel what God’s response to such prayers is.
The words of Jesus in the gospel are very uplifting. Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. He even illustrates that our earthly father gives us what we ask for, what more God our heavenly father? However, this does not mean we will get absolutely anything we ask for. God’s love is too great that he will not give us what is not good for us.
Ask. Seek. Knock.
God knows what we ask of Him even before we actually ask. However, that does not mean he will give everything we ask of him. Our parents love us, but would not give us what we ask if they know what we ask will be bad for us. More so with God. God also knows what will be good for us, so he will only give us what is best for us, he will give us only what is according to his perfect plan. This is why it is important to stay close to God, so we would know what he wants from us, and be sensitive enough to his voice, and let humble ourselves and submit ourselves to his will.
God is giving. He will always give us what we ask for, sometimes more than we ask for... As long as these things are in accordance to what he wants for us. To what his plans for us are. So as we ask, seek and knock, we should not just have faith, but humility as well.
What things am I asking for from God? What seems to be his answer? How do I react when God doesn’t give me what I pray for, especially when those things are very important for me? What is God telling me today?
May we learn to humbly ask according to the will of God, and be assured of his love for and protection to us.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for reminding me how much you love me and how much you care for me. Lord, sorry for being hard headed. Sorry for not having faith - in your power, in your plans, and in your love for me. Sorry for wanting things done my way. Lord, I thank you for my earthly parents. They may not be perfect, but you gave them to me to be ambassadors of your love to me. Help me show how much I love and appreciate them. I pray for those who are orphans or those who do not have parents that make them feel your love. I pray that you send them people that would keep your love alive in their lives. I also ask that you mold my heart. Increase my faith. May I always trust you. May I always surrender to you. May I always be sensitive to your will, and always submit myself to your will, having the assurance that you have the best for me. Amen.
Blessed Day!
In Christ,
-g-
Daily Readings
Thursday of the First Week in Lent
Lectionary: 227
Reading 1
Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,
had recourse to the LORD.
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,
for I am taking my life in my hand.
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.
Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,
O LORD, my God.
"And now, come to help me, an orphan.
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.
Save us from the hand of our enemies;
turn our mourning into gladness
and our sorrows into wholeness."
had recourse to the LORD.
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,
for I am taking my life in my hand.
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.
Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,
O LORD, my God.
"And now, come to help me, an orphan.
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.
Save us from the hand of our enemies;
turn our mourning into gladness
and our sorrows into wholeness."
Responsorial Psalm
R. (3a) Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
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;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
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;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Verse Before the Gospel
A clean heart create for me, O God;
give me back the joy of your salvation.
give me back the joy of your salvation.
Gospel
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.
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 things
to those who ask him.
"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets."
"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 things
to those who ask him.
"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets."
