The Thursday in the 1st Week in Lent
March 2, 2023
Matthew 7:7-12
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” At first glance it seems that Jesus is making a straightforward promise, but -as usual- the Devi… er… grace is in the details. What will you be given? What will you find? What door will open… and what will be beyond? We may think we know the answers to those questions when we ask, or seek or knock, but – in my experience – we do not. In our fallen state, we only know what we desire – not what we may need. Still, what’s important is that we come to God seeking guidance, rather than simply plowing forward relying on our own wisdom and understanding. Because God knows those answers, and that’s what matters.
Further in the passage, Christ asks “if your son asks for bread, will you give him a stone?” No, of course not. Love requires us to give what the recipient needs, not something useless or harmful. But needs and wants are not the same and, with parents, a “good gift” doesn’t always equate to what the child asks for. Sometimes a child asks for a pony, or a bb-gun, or a bazooka (I may or may not have asked for this last as a small child) that he really, really wants – but gets a book instead. The child, with limited understanding, has asked for what he desires and the parent, with a bit more wisdom, has given him what he needs. So too with God.
As adults, we are presumably not asking for bb-guns or bazookas (okay, most of us aren’t). We think we know what’s best for us – what we need – but we are just as burdened with ignorance and lack of foresight as children who sometimes ask for something fun – but dangerous. When we go to God in prayer, we will get an answer. Sometimes it’s “yes,” sometimes it’s “no,” and sometimes it’s “not yet.” By all means ask for what you want – but listen for the answer. Oh, and if he gives you a book? Read it.
Rich Anderson