First Week of Lent -Thursday
Reading: Matthew 7:7-12
‘Ask and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, now much more will your father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! In everything do to others as you would have them do for you; for this is the law and the prophets’
Reflection In this passage of scripture, Jesus invites us to reflect on the benevolence of God and to live good and holy lives in response to his great love. He reminds us that our heavenly father is aware of our everyday concerns and wishes to respond to them in love. He acknowledges that a human father cares deeply for his own child but the compassion that our heavenly father shows to all is so much greater than this human love. He asks us to approach God with hearts full of faith, trust and confidence knowing that God will answer our knock on the door of his heart and lavish his gifts upon us because he loves us. This benevolence is also shared by St. Paul when he writes, ‘And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 4:19) We may take comfort in these promises but we are called to extend the same generosity and kindness to the people who share our lives each day; failure to do so breaks the heart of God when he asks us to, ‘love one another, just as I have loved you.’ (John 13:34)
Prayer I thank you for your extraordinary love of me;
Nothing can compare to this great love.
Open my heart to receive this love in the core of my being;
May my life be transformed by your holy spirit so that I
may live according to your law of love. Deepen my trust so that I may walk every more closely to you,
O generous, loving and benevolent God, Amen.