A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus said to his disciples: “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.”
Jesus relates to the disciples the need to pray sincerely. “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.” In these short teachings, Jesus makes clear the need to ask, seek, and knock in prayer. In response, God’s perfect generosity is poured out in return. Although what we receive in prayer may not be exactly what we asked for, Jesus tells us that it will be so much more than what a father offers his son to sustain him.
God, help me take to heart two simple things your Son tells me about prayer: ask and receive. In order to receive the good things you give me, open my eyes to see that your will being done, not mine, is the good that I often fail to recognize. I want to remember today to ask you for help in knowing and doing your will, and I want to receive with a widened heart the good you give me that I might otherwise not see.
Lord, here I am before you. I ask for the grace today to know that you are with me. Let me recognize in the succession of moments that make up the day that as a loving Father you always give good gifts. Help open my hands to receive those gifts.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.