March 4, 2004 - Thursday, 1st Week of Lent

I Have No Helper But You

Readings:
Es 14:1, 3-5, 12-14; Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8;
Mt 7:7-12 (Listen to MP3 - Several Warnings)

Introduction

Prayer discloses all the riches of God’s goodness to us. God cannot resist us when we turn to him in our misery, in our needs, in our joy, even in our silence when we don’t know what to say. But the reason for his generosity is not so much that we ask him, but that he is good. Others, even a father or a mother, may give because the person who asks insists. God gives because he is good. He is glad to give. He gives with joy. And he gives always more than is asked.

Opening Prayer

Lord our God,
you are a generous Father,
who give us what is good for us
simply because you love us.
Give us grateful hearts, Lord,
that we may learn from you
to give and share without calculation
but simply with love and joy,
as Jesus did among us, your Son,
who lives with you and with us for ever.

Scripture Readings

First Reading: Es 14:1, 3-5, 12-14

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.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8

R (3a) Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Gospel Reading: Mt 7:7-12 (Listen to MP3 - Several Warnings - Mt 7:1-12)

Jesus said to his disciples, "Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives; whoever seeks, finds; and the door will be opened to him who knocks. Would any of you give a stone to your son when he asks for bread? Or give him a snake, when he asks for a fish? As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
"So, do to others whatever you would that others do to you: there you have the Law and the Prophets."

Commentary

"ASK and you will receive…." But how many times have we asked and not received? "Seek and you will find…." How often we have found nothing! How many doors stay closed to us! We have to go searching for a key to this text.

Julian of Norwich (14th century) wrote, "Often our trust is half-hearted, because we are not sure God hears us. This is because we think we are not good enough, and because we feel nothing at all-for often we are as barren and dry after praying as we were before. Such foolish thinking brings about our weakness in prayer. I know this feeling myself. Our Lord suddenly brought all this to my mind and revealed these words to me: 'I am the ground of your praying. First, it is my will that you have something, and then I make you want it too; then I make you beseech me for it-and you do beseech me. So how could you not have what you ask for?'"

Let's take away that famous phrase, "I am the ground of your praying," or in an older version, "I am the ground of your beseeching."

General Intercessions

–   That the Church may play wholeheartedly its role of intercession by making the needs of all people its own, we pray:

–   That the people of God may pray not only when they are in trouble and need but also to express their admiration, praise and joy, we pray:

–   That those who do not know to whom to turn in their miseries may find the Lord in people who are good to them and compassionate, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

Good Father in heaven,
give us now the bread of life:
give us your Son Jesus Christ,
May he stay with us
to make us generous givers
who do not put price tags on our gifts.
May we do what he did,
not to give gifts but ourselves,
that people may come to know you
as the loving Father of all,
now and for ever.

Prayer after Communion

God, Father of all,
more loving and good than any mother,
we have no one but you
and your Son among us
to see our needs even before we can voice them .
Hear our prayer, Lord,
for generosity and love,
for openness to you and to everyone,
that we may hear the cries of others
as you hear our prayers
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Blessing

Our Lord assures us today: “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” May we all be people who trust in prayer, and may almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

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