It all seems too easy: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. God promises to do these things for you if you simply make the request! But before we even consider this aspect of the gospel passage we must go on to the last phrase of the passage: Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets. This is the key to understanding the first part of the passage: the asking, seeking, knocking part.
If we truly respect, regard and treat others as we ought to respect, regard and treat ourselves – and desire to do for and to them what we would have done to us: then we can ask for, seek after and knock on doors that will open good things to be given to these other people: our brothers and sisters of the human family!
Then, we will simply know how to pray: with the Holy Spirit praying through us, we will know what to ask for, what to seek after, what doors to knock on – for the welfare of others: seeking all the while GOD'S WILL IN EACH AND EVERY INSTANCE.
Yes, it is true – God will always give, provide and open – if we ask, seek and knock properly: in the Spirit, and according to his will and way!
Queen Esther in the first reading found this to be true. She had heard about God in her own childhood and now she turned to him in prayer – asking, seeking, knocking on the door for help against her enemies – who would destroy her people and herself. And God answered her prayer and protected and defended her people and turned their mourning into gladness and their sorrows into wholeness. He can do the same for us! This day of Lent, when we call on him for help with our Lenten disciplines and practices – he will help us – especially if our Lenten discipline involves helping other people as instruments of love and peace and comfort!
Today, if you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts!
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