====== You won’t hide from us, you will hear Our cries.

  We are Yours, and you are our God. =====

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

Esther C:12, 14-16,23-25

Seized with anguish

In her fear of death, queen Ester likewise had recourse to the Lord. Then she prayed to the Lord God of Israel:

My Lord, you who stand alone, come to my help; I am alone and have no help but you. through my own choice I am endangering my life.

As a child I was wont to hear from the people of the land of my forebears that you, O Lord, chose Israel from among all people, and our fathers from among their ancestors to be your lasting heritage; that you did for them, all that you have promised.

Remember us, Lord; reveal yourself in the time of our calamity. Give me courage, king of gods and master of all power. Make my words persuasive when I face the lion; turn his heart against our enemy that the latter and his like may be brought to their end. Save us by your hand; help me who am alone and have none but you, O Lord.

   

Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8

Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊      

 Matthew 7:7-12

Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Would any of you give a stone to your son, when he asks for bread?

Or give him a snake, when he asks for a fish? However bad you may be, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So, do to others whatever you would that others do to you: there, you have the law and the prophets.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Asking and Receiving

A close reading of Jesus’ words today will reveal that Jesus did not specify if it is the very thing we ask for that we would receive; or what we search for is what we would find; or the door that opens would necessarily be the one we are knocking at! But does it matter?

If we trust God as our loving Father, wouldn’t He know what to give us or which door to open? In our human parenting, don’t we encounter children asking for something that is actually unhealthy for them, and therefore, we lovingly offer something else, healthier and better?

If they ask for a stone, don’t we offer bread instead? Or a fish, when they ask for a snake? If we care for our children so much with our limited wisdom and love, how much more should we be trusting God who is wiser we be trusting God who is wiser and loving beyond imagination!