Homily (Reflection) for Thursday of
the First Week of Lent (9th March, 2017) on the Gospel
Ps 137:1-3.7-8 (R. v. 3);
Matt 7:7-12.
Topic: God is not a Herod.
As I reflect on today’s gospel I remembered one day I packed just
to pick few things. An insane approached me and asked for help. I did not know exactly
why he went on to say that the bible tells us to ask and it will be given. I
smiled and asked him where it is in the bible and he quoted it impeccably; Matt 7:7.
Matthew chapter 7 verse 7 is normally seen as an open cheque
given to us by God to ask and get exactly what we ask for. Wait a minute. If
this verse is just this, what happens if I ask for your death and/or you ask
for mine?
Our God is a perfect God, cf. 2Sam 22:31; Ps 18:30; Matt 5:48. He did not and can never make a
mistake. As we read the gospel further I would like us to pay particular
attention to the adjective qualifying what to ask and what to be received, “If
you then, who are evil, know how to give GOOD GIFTS to your children, how much
more will your Father in heaven give GOOD THINGS to those who ask him!” (Matt 7:11). I purposefully highlighted
the adjective good and the nouns it qualifies. Even we mortals do not grant
everything our children ask for.
Being a perfect God, He cannot fall into the mistake that
landed Herod into approving the killing of John the Baptist. Remember, Herod did
that because of the stupid oath he took, cf. Matt 14:9-10; Mk 6:26-27.
God asks us to ask and we shall receive on the condition that
we ask for something good, cf. Jas 4:3.
And neither what is evil nor what seems good because He is an all-knowing God,
cf. 1Jn 3:20. The Holy Spirit is to
assist us ask properly, cf. Rom 8:26.
Finally, if we ask for what we should they shall be surely ours but again at
God’s own time, cf. 2Thess 2:6. Be
patient and know that God is still God, cf. Ps 46:10.
Bible Reading: Jas 4:1-10; Matt 5:33-48.
Thought for today: Our God is just in all His ways, and kind in all His
doings, cf. Ps 145:17.
Let us pray: May the Holy Spirit help us to pray
as we ought – Amen (cf. Rom 8:26).
You are free to share this reflection with
others if you consider it worthy.
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