The essence of prayer is petitioning to God to grant us something from his bountiful graces. But before asking, it is important to recognize the Giver:

“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near” (Is 55:6). So, the petitioner simply has to ask. And all prayers are answered: sometimes immediately as direly needed, or at other times waiting for the opportune time. Or adversely the answer maybe “no” because it is not appropriate or can be harmful.

The father knows what is good and best for his children; no parent would wish evil to befall the young ones, for at times they do not know what to ask for, whether these are essential or trivial matters, or even a danger to the children. Therefore, we trust the Father in heaven to give us only good things.

Moreover, Jesus assures his disciples: “Whatever you ask the Father in my name He may give you” (Jn 15:16). When we ask in the name of the Lord Jesus, we are assured of God’s positive answer, since we cannot ask something which is contrary to the teachings of our Lord Jesus.

A story is told of three petitioners who asked God to heal them of the same dreaded affliction: a farmer, a lay minister, and a monk.

After a week, the farmer was healed; after three months, it was the turn of the lay minister. However, even after a year, the monk still continues to suffer. When an angel asked the Lord why he did not answer them in the same way, the Lord replied: “The farmer’s faith in me is delicate; he would lose it if I do not answer him at once. That of the lay minister is more mature. The monk, however, has complete faith in me. He will continue to believe whether I delay his healing or not heal him at all.”

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.”

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 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.