The Door Will Be Opened

February 14, 2008

Thursday of the First Week in Lent

Then she prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, saying: "My Lord, our King, you alone are God. Help me, who am alone and have no help but you, for I am taking my life in my hand. As a child I was wont to hear from the people of the land of my forefathers that you, O Lord, chose Israel from among all peoples, and our fathers from among all their ancestors, as a lasting heritage, and that you fulfilled all your promises to them. Esther C: 14-16

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Piety

Let us pray: God, as we are immersed in sharing your Lenten journey and experience, please accept us as we are and listen to our prayers. Give us the faith to know that you will answer the prayers for what we need just as a friend would answer the door if we need something for our family. Give us the confidence to approach your door with humility and love. Give us the strength to knock loud enough so you will hear our pleas. Give us the patience to wait until you open that door and welcome us into your home. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/021408.shtml

God wants to know you. God wants to know what you need. If you tell God, then God will answer you. It’s that simple.

What the message is not is a message to fulfill what you WANT. This covenant with God is based on what you need, not what you “want” and certainly not what Madison Avenue, Wall Street, K Street or Hollywood have persuaded you to want!

Ask and you shall have it. Knock and the door will be opened to you.

We are NOT faced with some sort of “Monty Hall/Let’s Make a Deal” problem. There is not some prize behind the door where Carol Merrill is now standing. What is behind that door is not a new car, a fur coat or a goat. God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to be behind that door. He wants us to pick him. He wants to be your Valentine!

The introduction to the Book of Esther in the New American Bible (N.A.B.) teaches us that the book was intended as a consolation for Israel, a reminder that God’s providence continually watches over them, never abandoning them when they serve him faithfully or turn to him in sincere repentance. God always wants to lead us to the right door to pick. He is the shepherd who leads us to green pastures; he brings us to still waters. Once we knock on His door, the Lord will live in our house forever. (Psalm 23)

This mindset of welcoming God into our lives is needed for prayers and fasting. Our Lenten prayer, fasting and almsgiving are not just for the others we serve but also for ourselves. This theme has been a common thread uniting our minds during this first full week of Lent. God has asked us to Be Holy. God has asked us to share with Him what is in our hearts…he hears it before we can even put the thought or emotion into words. God tells us he will listen and forgive.

God pleads with us to ask him for what we need. There is no sense in trying to be insanely “Mother-I-can-do-it-myself” independent. The invitation is there. Not just for the Jews but for everyone who asks, seeks or knocks.

Action

Let’s accept Jesus’ invitation. Let’s be Catholic. For some suggestions, consider some ideas offered by Bob Zyskowski, associate publisher of The Catholic Spirit (Archdiocesan newspaper in Minneapolis/St. Paul) in the column linked below. Here is a link to his original column. Even though it was written last year, there are some interesting suggestions. Thanks to Pat Seiler for sharing the original story with me recently. http://www.georgiabulletin.org/local/2007/02/01/becatholic/