GROW AS A DISCIPLE
“Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? I remember understanding this verse as though God is like a genie in a bottle and prayer is like a delivery service. But when I encountered true hardship, this interpretation was tested. I was seeking, but I couldn’t find what I wanted. My request seemed to go unanswered. I was asking, but my hands were empty. I couldn’t reconcile this. Did this mean God wasn’t telling me the truth? Trusting that couldn’t be the case, I pressed in a little harder. In time, and through the grace of God, I realized I’d been reading this verse through selfish eyes. I was understanding this passage to say, “ask for whatever you feel like in the moment, and I’ll drop it on your doorstep.” But what does Jesus actually say? He says that if we ask, he will always give us the Holy Spirit. This understanding can change how we pray. The Lord doesn’t promise to instantly cure our maladies, or to remove every ounce of pain on this side of the veil. But he does promise to send his Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to be with us through it all. And that is far better than any type of delivery service.
GO EVANGELIZE
Today’s psalm echoes the Gospel message that the Lord never abandons us. In our response, we unite our voices with the universal Church as we say, “Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.” We encounter hardship on a daily basis. From the tiny irritations that tempt our tempers to flare to the heavy crosses we carry, we are reminded of how much we need God’s help. And yet, how often is our response to turn inward and grow weary, discouraged, or angry? Next time we come eye to eye with a challenge, let’s try to respond like the psalmist, and cry out to the Advocate. He is very near. Come Holy Spirit.
REFLECT
We are reminded in today’s readings that the Lord is always near, that he hears us, and that he responds generously. Thank God this is true even when it doesn’t seem like it. As we face our daily hardships, let’s not forget to ask Jesus for help. Don’t forget that he never rations the Spirit, and though he will never force himself on you, he’s waiting eagerly to pour his love into your heart. Ask! Seek! Knock! He knows your voice, and he is ready to respond.
By The Faithful Disciple