First Reading - Esther 4:17
Gospel - Matthew 7:7-12
In the first reading, we find Queen Esther in a moment of fear and urgency. Her people are threatened with destruction, and she herself risks her life by approaching the king without being summoned. Before taking action, she turns to God in deep prayer. She acknowledges her helplessness and places her trust entirely in him. Esther does not rely on her position, influence, or strength. She knows that true deliverance must come from the Lord. Her prayer is marked by humility and total dependence.
This scene teaches us something essential about prayer. It is not a last resort after every other plan fails. It is the foundation from which courage and action flow. Esther prays first, and then she acts. Her confidence does not come from certainty about the outcome, but from trust in God’s presence.
In the Gospel, Jesus speaks directly about this trust. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. The repetition is deliberate. Prayer requires persistence and confidence. Jesus wants his disciples to approach the Father not with fear, but with boldness.
He uses a simple image from family life. If a child asks for bread, will a father give a stone? If he asks for a fish, will he give a serpent? Even human parents, with all their limitations, know how to give good gifts to their children. How much more will the heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.
This does not mean that God grants every request exactly as we imagine. Rather, it means that he gives what is truly good, what leads to life and salvation. Sometimes the answer is different from what we expect, but it is never lacking in love.
Jesus concludes with the golden rule: do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This command flows naturally from trusting God as Father. When we know we are loved and cared for, we are freed to love others generously.
Dear friends, today's readings show us that prayer is both humble and confident. Like Esther, we approach God aware of our need. Like children, we approach him trusting in his goodness. And from that place of trust, we are called to act with justice, kindness, and mercy toward others.
Today we are encouraged to pray with sincerity and perseverance. Ask. Seek. Knock. God is not distant or indifferent. He is a Father who listens, who knows, and who gives what is truly good to those who trust him.
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