Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will he reach him a stone? Or if he shall ask him a fish, will he reach him a serpent? If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him? All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:7-12 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father so many times I've often heard it said that peoples prayers go unanswered. Some have turned away from you because of this. Their faith wasn't strong enough to sustain their trial. Is it possible that what they were asking for wasn't what they needed and they were only looking for, but a quick fix. Like many out there with addictions. They found their loyalty in something else that would take away their pain. Jesus knew their heart enough to tell us how to pray, how to ask you. But most importantly, how not to give up. The world we live in dear Father is full of suffering in many forms, I come to you this day and ask to heal these addictions that often takes away a persons soul. Be it in the form of drug, alcohol, hidden addiction, perversions and so much more. Be a light in their darkness so when they pray for deliverance from the evil that has taken hold of them, they may find freedom and healing. Restore their hope and love in you and forever banish the evil that has kept your people in bondage. Amen

And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard. Be not you therefore like to them, for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him.

Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our supersubstantial bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.

For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences. But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.
Matthew 6:7-15 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father we pray to you each day knowing that you know our needs before we ask for them. But in our sinfulness we forget that is exactly how you are. You know our needs! And to think we think you don't. How small minded we are then not to have faith in this knowledge. We truly are children in that sense, because children do all sorts of things to get what they want from their parents. Even when the parents know better. Only difference you don't cave in and give us what we want when we want it. Can it be possible that we learned not to forgive others because we pray for things and often don't receive them. Some even wonder if you exist. If they only knew the truth of that they would think otherwise. But how do we forgive others as this prayer Jesus taught us, help us. It frees us from our selves. We no longer are self-centered when forgiveness is extended beyond sphere. When we look only for your forgiveness and don't seek it from those we hurt what good then have we done. Jesus knew more than anyone that forgiveness makes us whole, it brings us together and restores harmony to ourselves and to others. So lets get out of ourselves and into others for a change and extend forgiveness. We will then begin to understand the depths of this pray that Jesus taught. Amen

And when the Son of man shall come in his majesty, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit upon the seat of his majesty. And all nations shall be gathered together before him, and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in: naked, and you covered me: sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me. Then shall the just answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, and fed thee; thirsty, and gave thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and covered thee? Or when did we see thee sick or in prison, and came to thee? And the king answering, shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me. Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat: I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you covered me not: sick and in prison, and you did not visit me. Then they also shall answer him, saying: Lord, when did we see thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee? Then he shall answer them, saying: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it not to one of these least, neither did you do it to me. And these shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just, into life everlasting.
Matthew 25:31-46 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father there is so much to think about with this reading. What have I done for another whose circumstances are less than mine or for that matter who has more but is still in need in some way. Jesus gives us such beautiful messages to stop looking at our own needs and to look at our neighbors and say to ourselves what have I done to bring hope to their life. Asking myself these same questions Jesus posed so long ago, did I feed someone who was hungry, did I give them water for their thirst and so forth. Did I give them spiritual food or spiritual water? Or did I avoid helping when I knew they needed help, did I snicker rather than console. The greatest danger is not helping at all but thinking these people need to walk on their own two feet. But according to this reading, Jesus exhorts us to help, to do for others lest we find ourselves in everlasting punishment. Have I then given help to another so they could also walk in the light of Christ. Let us then do as Jesus says. Amen