Thursday of the First Week of Lent

Today's Mass Readings

In the Gospel today, Jesus says, “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.” I remember when I was a kid, my mother telling me if I had an upcoming important exam to “pray to the Holy Spirit that He may enlighten your mind.” I would do as my mother had told me, and I would still be surprised that I wouldn’t get the grade that I would want. I remember telling my mom, “I prayed to the Holy Spirit and I didn’t get the grade I wanted!” and she would say “well, did you study?” Then the grace of humility would find me and I would say “…no.”

We must always ask the Lord, but we have to remember too that it’s not a one-way street; we must always ask then act upon it. We are chosen vessels of the Lord spreading His good news to all that we meet. We shouldn’t be like the Prophet Jeremiah and think, “I am too young, someone else who is better should relay the Lord’s message.” I have trouble with this all the time. I always think, “Can I really do this? I am not very good with my words.” But that is when I have to ask for the grace to trust in Him and act upon it.

Is there anything that you could ask for the Lord and act upon it? For example, could you ask for patience with a coworker, family member, or friend? Can you try to see Christ in them?

Reflection by Br. Maximilian Burkhart, OSB