“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” – Luke 11:9-10
As a child I wanted to be a professional athlete. I imagined scoring touchdowns for the Green Bay Packers and hitting home runs for the Milwaukee Brewers. (As you might guess, I’m a fan of Wisconsin sports teams!) I dreamed of hoisting the championship trophy as the crowd cheered my name.
I prayed that God would help me accomplish these goals. I begged him to make me a stronger and faster competitor. I asked Him to help me defeat my opponents.
Alas, my visions of making it to the big leagues failed to materialize. My sports career ended after my final high school game. I was never offered an athletic scholarship from a college or a high-paying professional contract.
So, what happened? I thought Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive…” Wasn’t He listening? Why didn’t He give me what I asked for?
It’s easy to jump to the wrong conclusion with this kind of thinking. Many people read this passage from Luke’s Gospel and assume that God will give them anything they request. Then, when their wishes do not come to fruition, they often lose their faith in God and desert Him.
To understand what Jesus truly meant, we must examine the rest of the passage in question. As we’ll hear this Sunday in the Gospel reading, Jesus went on to emphasize the goodness of our Heavenly Father. He said, “If you then who are wicked know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him.”
So, rather than being disappointed when our wishes are not granted, we should have hope that God knows what is best for us and will indeed provide it. God still loved me, even though He didn’t make me into a professional football player. Actually, the fact that He didn’t make me into a major league athlete must have been part of His plan of immeasurable love for me.
Perhaps the example of Saint Therese of Lisieux can help increase our faith in the mystery of God’s gift-giving. This remarkable young nun exemplified the virtue of childlike faith throughout her life. She once wrote, “God gives me whatever I want, because I want whatever He gives.”
Let that sink in for a moment. What a beautiful testament of love and faith! She conformed her will to the Father’s as best as she could, because she trusted that He only wanted what was best for her. If we can do the same, then we will truly receive all that we ask for, because, with complete trust in God’s mercy, our only request will be that His Will may be done.
Merciful Father, incline our hearts according to Your will so that we may receive all the truly good things you wish to bestow upon us in Your love. Amen.
