Tag Archives: asking

FRIEND OF GOD

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Thursday 9th October – Thursday of week 27 of the year

Reflections: Luke 11:5-13

FRIEND OF GOD

As often as I read about the open cheque in Mathew 7:7, I wonder: why and how possible it is possible. Christ seemingly sets no pre-conditions for “receiving, for finding, or for having the door opened to you”; all He simply says is “ask, seek and knock”! With just that, all things are at your beck and call….simple! However, as simple as it is to just ask and receive, seek and find and knock and have the door opened, so many people (and indeed, most people), never receive, nor find nor have the doors opened unto them.

The reason for this is obviously not farfetched. Although it all seems so simple, the logic only works for those who have an account in the heaven’s bank. An account that is opened by the blood of Christ, through salvation which makes us friends of God. It is not as much as in the asking, seeking and knocking as it is in our faith in the one from whom we ask, our hope in the one from whom we seek and our love for the one beyond the door.

One of my most favourite quotes from St Augustine is “Love God, and do whatever you like”. It could be rephrased as “Love God, and ask whatever you want”. The secret is the love of God; our friendship with God. That is what unlocks every door and provides all you seek and ask. Beloved, of all things you could ask, seek or knock for, I admonish you, seek friendship with God. For in that friendship, is everything added unto you (Matthew 6:33). Many have not found this friendship, and try to use their own efforts (as is reflected in the first reading of today. To those who enjoy his friendship, all will be given, found and opened unto them.

In the words of John O’Donnell, “to find God is our greatest accomplishment, to serve him, our greatest honour and to love him is the deepest romance…”

PRAYER:  Lord, bring us into deeper friendship with you. May all who seek you find you, may all who knock on you have the door of salvation opened to them, and may we receive what we ask for our spiritual and corporal needs, through Christ, our Saviour and Friend. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 507 – What happens if you find that prayer does not help?

Prayer does not seek superficial success but rather the will of God and intimacy with him. God’s apparent silence is itself an invitation to take a step farther—in total devotion, boundless faith, endless expectation. Anyone who prays must allow God the complete freedom to speak whenever he wants, to grant whatever he wants, and to give himself however he wants.

 HIDE A TREASURE: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7 RSV-CE

Readings for Today: Galatians 3:1-5; Luke 1: 69-73, 75 (canticle); Luke 11:5-13

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ASKING ARIGHT

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Sunday 27th July – 17th Sunday of the year

Reflection: 1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12

ASKING ARIGHT

James gives us an insight into why our prayers are not answered. “You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4: 2-3). God desires the best for you and I. However we often do not know what is best for ourselves. Our worldly mind is so occupied by mundane things and selfishness that we do not ask for the right things.

Today’s reading presents us with “a question of a lifetime”. Imagine God telling you: “Ask what you would like me to give you”. What would be your reply? Solomon’s answer to this question was commended by God. He looked beyond himself, his comfort, material gain etc and asked for the understanding and discernment needed to lead God’s people aright. What was God’s response? “…here and now I do what you ask”. That is the very response you and I love to here when we pray.

Dear friends, indeed God has that same response for you today if you ask aright. God created us to be happy. But our true happiness only comes when we are unselfish in our prayers. Christ assures us: “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14: 13-14). Let us approach our dear Father each day for our needs with faith and trust and with the desire to glorify Him even in our requests.

PRAYER: Thank you Jesus for the reassurance you give me. Please take away from me all selfish inclinations so that my petitions will be in accordance to your divine will. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 507 – What happens if you find that prayer does not help?

Prayer does not seek superficial success but rather the will of God and intimacy with him. God’s apparent silence is itself an invitation to take a step farther—in total devotion, boundless faith, endless expectation. Anyone who prays must allow God the complete freedom to speak whenever he wants, to grant whatever he wants, and to give himself however he wants.

HIDE A TREASURE: “And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” 1 John 5:14 RSV-CE

Readings for today: 1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12; Psalm 119: 57, 72, 76-77, 127-130; Romans 8: 28 – 30;

Matthew 13: 44 -52