The answer to prayers

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 asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks 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

ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. The Gospel is part of Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount, which outlines the spirit of Christian discipleship. Here, the spirit of filial trust in the goodness of our heavenly Father is emphasized. The generosity and goodness of the heavenly Father exceeds the generosity of earthly parents. As earthly parents give nourishment to their children, so much more will the heavenly Father give what we need. What we have to do is present our needs to the Father; He knows what is best for us. If what we ask for is not given, then it must not be beneficial for us.

Thus, what we should ask for is the heavenly Father’s guidance, so that what we ask for is in accordance with His holy will.

With Jesus, let our prayer be, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven” (Mt 6:9-10; cf Lk 11:2).

SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph