A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 1:19-28)
+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.
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection
We all know that children love to ask things that are delicious, but which are not good for them in the long run. That is why we ,the adults in their lives, must be careful not to overindulge them, but provide them with things that are good!
Children are always looking for an opportunity to get candies, cookies, TV time, and such. Now, if we are honest, we all have yielded to their request from time to time. Sometimes we yield because we just love seeing the funny and happy faces children make as they relish their little gift. Sometimes we yield because we dread the tantrum and the sad face they do when they do not obtain what they want. But we all know that giving them too much of those things will do them more harm than good in the long run.
It is true that Jesus is reminding us to be persistent. He is telling us that we must knock, seek, ask so that we may receive the many good things that our Heavenly Father is eager to give us. However, the question is “Do we know if what we are asking for is actually good for our eternal life? Do we know if what we’re asking for is good and in accord with God’s plan? Or is it the case that, from God’s point of view, we are simply asking for one of those treat?
God may give some of us a “candy” or a “cookie” once in a while. Yet, we must not get upset if he says “no” when we ask him for things that are not good in the grand scheme of God’s plan.
Jesus also is right in saying that our Heavenly Father truly wants to give us things that are good for us. God is more than happy to grant us good things that we truly need to achieve eternal life, things that do good to those around us.
Think of all the bible passages where Jesus performs a miracle. Jesus never does them for his own glory. Jesus never does them only for the benefit of the individual. The miracles Jesus perform are meant to bring all those around him closer to God.
So, as Jesus says, if we, who are wicked, know what good gifts to give, when and how best to give them to our children, then we must trust that our Heavenly Father knows infinitely more what good things to give us, in good measure, overflowing, at the proper time and in the appropriate manner; things that would help us attain eternal life!
Action of the Day.
What are we asking God for lately? For a better Job? For a raise in pay? For better health? For your family member to get better? There is nothing wrong asking God for these or other similar requests. What is important is to be honest with ourselves and be clear whether what we are asking God for will truly help us achieve eternal life. Or whether the things we are asking will help others around us get closer to God. Perhaps God said “yes” to our resent request, but is what we got just a sort of “cookie” or “candy” that would make us smile -if just for a while?
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