First Reading
Esther c:12, 14-16, 23-25
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.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c8
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.
Gospel
Matthew 7:7-12
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.”
REFLECTION
SOURCE: One Bread One Body
TITLE: YOU ASKED FOR IT
"Ask, and you will receive." –Matthew 7:7
The Lord commands us to ask Him, but for what? Jesus taught us to ask God for His name to be hallowed, His kingdom to come, His will to be done (Mt 6:9-10). The Lord is not commanding us to ask for our wants, but for His wants. This presents a problem, for we often "ask wrongly, with a view to squandering what" we receive on our pleasures (Jas 4:3). Prayer is not getting our will, but God's will.
However, if we seek first God's kingdom and His way of holiness (Mt 6:33), the Lord gives us our daily bread (Mt 6:11). When we ask for God's wants, we receive our needs. However, when we ask for our wants, we move away from talking to God into talking to ourselves. We may appear to be praying, but we're actually in a self-centered monologue.
Asking is difficult for us. We can't ask for His will and our will at the same time, unless our will is conformed to His. Asking means dying to self, repenting of sin, and taking up our daily cross (Lk 9:23). Asking is not playing prayer games with God, but communicating with the Lord in a heart-wrenching, self-denying way. Asking requires love and faith. The Lord is giving you now the command and grace to ask. Therefore, ask.
PRAYER: Father, transform me this Lent. I will no longer ask in my name but in Jesus' name.
PROMISE: "Save us by Your power, and help me, who am alone and have no one but You, O Lord. You know all things." –Est C:25
PRAISE: Bernard, a sixteen year_old, asked the Holy Spirit for the gift of leadership when he received prayers to be renewed in the Spirit.
...may the good Lord bless His holy word in our hearts...
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