Daily Reflection – Feb 18, 2016
Thursday 18 February 2016
First Reading: Esther 4:17
Responsorial Psalm:
Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me
Psalm 137(138):1-3, 7-8
Gospel Reading: Matthew 7:7-12
Today’s Note: Thursday of the First Week in Lent
Gospel Reading:
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.”
Reflection:
“Turn our mourning into gladness, our sorrow into wholeness.”
A Jewish queen lies prostrate with anguish, prostrate in prayer in the palace of her pagan husband. Her prayer brings wholeness, shalom. Shalom means peace, wholeness, integrity. Esther prays, and Jesus teaches about prayer: If we who are sinners give our children good gifts, how much more God will flood us with ever so many more good gifts, if we but ask. And sometimes before we ask.
If you believe that you have to earn grace or merit salvation, ask for the grace of experiencing God’s unconditional love. Don’t pray today because it will grow you in grace, but because God is in love with you. Respond. And pray that bold-faced prayer above often throughout the day, if not for yourself, then for all those in sorrow.
Jesus, we ask for peace in our hearts, our homes, our nations, our world. We ask for health for those physically in pain or disease and health for our planet earth.
