Thursday of the First Week in Lent

Today's Mass Readings

“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.” (Today’s Gospel from Matthew)

Whenever I read today’s passage from the Gospel of Matthew, I can’t help but think of all the times I’ve prayed for something and didn’t get it. I think the reason our prayers seem to go unanswered sometimes is that we tend to focus on asking, but we forget that we are also told we need to seek and to knock, too. We can’t ask properly if we do not know what we are seeking. Nor can we ask if we do not knock. It is easy to ask for what we want. Seeking, on the other hand, requires discernment and concentration. We must discern what it is that will truly be beneficial to us, then we need to clear out the distractions in life and start seeking our true good. Knocking requires intensity and perseverance. We must knock on the door passionately and continue knocking even if Jesus doesn’t open the door right away. If we persevere in our prayer, we know that God will always give us what we ask for or something better.

Reflection by Br. Augustine Kroeze, OSB