Count on Prayer

We can always count on prayer because it is a beautiful gift that God has given to us. As we have established, prayer is one of the goods of Lent and many people work on prayer during this holy season. However, prayer needs to be a constant in our lives. We need to follow our Lord's example and spend that quiet time with the Father. The readings for today show us that prayer is nothing new and you can always count on it. In our first reading, Esther C:12,14-16,23-25, we see Queen Esther prostrating herself and making her needs known before the Lord. The gospel, Matthew 7:7-12, has Jesus telling his disciples and us, to ask; seek; and knock. When we pray, we do just that. I think the commentary puts it all quite well: "Queen Esther prostrates all her majesty before the Lord and prays, 'Help me, who am alone and have no help but you.' There is no more perfect human gesture than such authentic prayer. Even in our wickedness we know how to give good gifts to our children. Which means that the inclination to pray is something as natural as our heart. Christ tells us to be true to our inborn need to depend: 'Ask, seek, knock. You will find'" (Magnificat, 24). When we pray we do so with faith, hope, and trust. Our answer may not be what we want but it is what God wants for God knows what is best for us. Let us make the most of this holy season as we grow in prayer because it is the gift that we can count on. Bless You!!!