Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

 

Gospel Reading: 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."

 

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus talks to the heart of prayer. Jesus tells us that the Father in heaven will give us what we need if we ask for it. He tells us, "For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." More importantly, Jesus tells us that our Father in heaven will only give us what is good for us. "Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread?" When we pray to God, he listens. He also answers every prayer we send to him. However, he will only give us what we need to be nourished and fed. He does not send us things that will harm us. So when we ask for things from God and he does not appear to answer them in the way we want them answered, you should think about what you asked. Was it something that we truly needed or was it something that would lead us away from our salvation? Know that God has answered that prayer. Not only does God answer that prayer, he responds more abundantly then we deserve. Sometimes the most abundant answer he can give us is "No."

 

I guess the real question is, "Can you ever pray to much?" The simple answer is no. God is like an unending supply of mercy. If we need God's help, we can ask for it. Those who truly know the mercy and love of God pray often to God. The more we pray, the more we know and understand the power of prayer and the more we understand and know the abundant and glorious love of God that is poured out for us sinners on earth. No matter how evil man becomes, God is always there to pour out his love and grace for us. No matter how serious our needs, God is always willing to help pick us up and carry us through the troubled waters. We can either decide to swim through the turbulent waters of life alone or we can surrender our lives to God who calms the seas. How often do we refuse help or think we can tackle a problem on our own? We should learn to turn these things over to God. Many times, it is our pride that keeps us away from the glory of God. Surrender your pride to God today.

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord God in Heaven, you are my master.

Let me love you as I am, let me surrender myself to you.

Give me the strength to be a true disciple

Make my prayer life more bountiful and

Help me to conquer those things that keep me from you.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon