Matthew 7:7-12 NRSVue
7“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for bread, would give a stone? 10Or if the child asked for a fish, would give a snake? 11If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
12“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
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Reflection on Matthew 7:7-12
Inspiration from 2025-03-13 Daily Prayer
It is for the deepest desires in our hearts that we should earnestly ask God in prayer. Ask, search, knock at the door. He will always hear these prayers and answer in the way that is best for us. ‘You will seek Me and you will find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart’ (Jeremiah 29:13). Like a good parent, our Heavenly Father will provide for us.
In everything do to others as you would wish them to do to you. We rightly call this the golden rule, and it reminds us again that our relationship with God is always linked with our relationships with all whom we meet. We are called to live out of our prayer and to pray out of our living.
Further reflection
The Jewish rabbis used say: ‘Human beings can hardly hear two people talking at once, but God, if all the world talks to him at the one time, hears their cry’. That challenges our imagination. Parent-child is only a metaphor for what happens in prayer. I know, Lord, that you always hear my cry, but I do not always understand your answer. I will still go on praying to you, happy to fall back on the ‘Our Father’. In the very act of praying we receive something from God. As we open our hearts to God in prayer, God's hands are open to give us good gifts. We leave a time of prayer with an increase of faith, hope and love, which is the consolation of God. No time of prayer is wasted; all prayer is in the service of love, and prayer increases within us our capacity to love.