Reading I
Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25
Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,
had recourse to the LORD.
She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids,
from morning until evening, and said:
“God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you.
Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,
for I am taking my life in my hand.
As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers
that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you.
Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,
O LORD, my God.
“And now, come to help me, an orphan.
Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion
and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy,
so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.
Save us from the hand of our enemies;
turn our mourning into gladness
and our sorrows into wholeness.”
Gospel
Mt 7:7-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
“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.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone
when he asked for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asked for a fish?
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.
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets.”
Meditation: Matthew 7:7-12
Try to remember a favorite Christmas gift you received as a child.
Maybe it was a new bicycle or a doll that you had your heart set on. Remember how happy it made you on Christmas Day. But by the following Christmas—and maybe long before that—the novelty of that gift wore off, and you were looking for something else. As you grew older, those Christmas gifts seemed to mean less and less. While you appreciated them, you knew that they wouldn’t satisfy you. You were looking for something more.
It’s that “something more” that Jesus is speaking of to his disciples. When he compares God to a human parent who gives good gifts to his children, he knows the comparison will fall short. But that’s probably what he intended, because he wanted his disciples to get a taste of how much greater God’s love is than any earthly gift they could receive. Of course God will provide for their needs, but the gifts he has for them go beyond material necessities.
What are some of those intangible gifts that the Father has for us? We could probably start with the biggest gift of all—the gift of the Holy Spirit. It’s the Holy Spirit who gives us power to overcome our weaknesses and witness Christ’s presence in the world. And while the Spirit may be invisible, virtues like peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control are not. They are the fruits of his work in our hearts, and no amount of money or possessions can equal what they can do to transform our lives and our environments.
How often during the day do you face something that seems beyond your ability to cope? These are the times when we need to turn to God and ask him for a deeper sense of his love and encouragement. These are the times when we need to open up his gift of the Holy Spirit and receive the peace, strength, and wisdom that only he can give. Remember: The Holy Spirit who came to the apostles at Pentecost has never left! He is very much alive today, and he loves you deeply. So call on him today, and watch how he helps you to be “more than a conqueror” in Christ! (Romans 8:37).
“Lord, I need to experience your love and power. Come, Holy Spirit, and make my words and actions testify to the reality of your grace.”
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