Scripture:
Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25
Matthew 7:7-12
Reflection:
Several years ago, the husband of a dear friend was hospitalized suddenly in serious condition. Before taking him to surgery, the surgeon told my friend that he couldn’t guarantee a good outcome. When I arrived, the atmosphere in the waiting room felt quite chaotic. As you can imagine, my friend and her daughters were shocked as they tried to digest the news. It so happened that same morning the Gospel was the one we have today. Before leaving for the hospital, I took my daily scripture prayer book, thinking that it might be a source of hope and consolation.
During the long hours of waiting periodically my friend would ask me to read the Gospel to her. I remember the sensation of being suspended in time as we waited and prayed with the Scripture, “Ask and it will be given to you. . .” (v.7a). Thankfully, our prayers for a good outcome were answered that night.
About two years ago, we prayed for the healing of a dear young man just shy of 17 years old suffering from a malignant brain tumor. Our community had been praying for him from infancy as he courageously fought –and won— the battles along his journey until he finally succumbed to the disease.
This felt like a gut check to our faith in God and prayer. We may often feel unheard or “not good enough” to have our particular petitions answered. No doubt we have all experienced both the euphoria of answered prayer—in the manner of our petition, and the disappointment of a perceived silence in the unanswered petition.
These situations provide no straightforward solutions or definitive answers. They call for deepening our faith in God’s wisdom and presence precisely when we don’t feel it possible. Trusting that our heavenly Father is not giving us a “stone” and withholding the “bread” when we ask (v.9a) is an act of faith in God’s providence and grace. It is choosing to believe in the bigger picture that God alone can see. Surrendering to the mystery of human life in all its joys and sorrows is the ultimate expression of faith. Never a passive offering, it is an active and ongoing engagement with the Spirit of God in prayer.
Like the Psalm suggests, “Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me; you built up strength within me” (138:3). Therefore, strengthened by our prayer, let us hold fast to faith and trust that we will always receive “bread” from our heavenly Father in whatever form that takes. Amen.
Jean Bowler is a member of the Ministry Team at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California.