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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Ask and it will be given to you

Ask and it will be given to you

Published Mar 13, 2025 02:24 am

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Gird your loins

Queen Esther’s plea in the First Reading was not for her sake but for the Jews who were in danger of being wiped out because of the evil designs of their mortal enemy Haman. Despite her fear and the near-impossibility of her request being granted, God disposed King Ahasuerus’ heart towards Esther, and her prayer was heard by God is his perfect time. This is how God listens to our requests—at the right time. 

The Gospel reading reminds us that God is never selfish and he already knows our needs before we even ask. Our prayer or conversation with God is like the relationship of a child to his father. This means that, apart from fulfilling our requests, our prayer deepens our dependence on God who is the source of everything. Prayer makes us fall deeper in love with God who is the one who understands and fulfills the deepest longings of our hearts. 

God is our Father, and we are his children. The reason why God cannot refuse our plea to him is because of our relationship to him. How open are we to the Lord then? Hopefully, not only in the times of great need. This Lent, God invites us to come to him, and to see him as a father who can never refuse his child’s requests.

First Reading • Est 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 • Ps 138 

“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 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.”

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

 

 

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