25 Feb 2010 - dedicated to Joanna

I received a prayer request yesterday in my email from a friend to pray for her friend and aunt. I prayed for them this morning and at lunchtime today, got a SMS that the doctor had called and the friend is in her last hour. We all prayed and what we ask for may not be what is the best that God has planned for us. Appropriately the reading and Gospel for today is about prayer. Prayer of Esther in distress, surrendering to God and The Gospel about how we should pray with expectation that God will answer our prayer and His response will be with so much more love compared with our earthly father & friends. I have included the scripture for today and also the reflection from Shalom (Jesuit publication). Do not be dishearten, know that we are loved. He wants to take away our suffering and pain.

Scripture for Thur 25 th Feb 2010, 1st Week of Lent

Reading I
Est C:12, 14-16
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.

Gospel
Mt 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.”


Shalom reflection

In today’s first reading Queen Esther prays fervently for herself and her nation for deliverance from the mortal danger of being exterminated by Haman. When we meditate upon the two readings we discover three important conditions of the prayer of petition.

The first of these conditions is faith. It is faith that tells us that there is God — the Lord of all and the Father of mercies, our Creator and Redeemer who never is tired or bored with our prayers. Only people who believe ask God, seek His presence and knock at the door of His graciousness.

The second condition is trust in God. God who is our loving Father not only can help us but He will certainly give us the graces that we need. God’s help is not a theory but practice — work and action. God is always faithful to His promises. His love is eternal.

The third condition of prayer of petition is perseverance. We must ask, seek and knock unceasingly and let God decide when and how we shall receive His divine help. Perseverance helps us also to prepare our hearts for the reception of God’s gifts with gratefulness.

There is also one more thing we should remember when asking God for His grace. As God is merciful and always ready to help us so we ought to be loving and generous towards our neighbours. “So always treat others as you would like them to treat you.”

Lord, strengthen my faith and trust in You that I may ask, seek and knock with perseverance. Open my heart, eyes and hands to the needs of others.