Answers to Our Prayers

“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."

(Matthew 7:7-8)

When it comes to the daily Mass readings, I don't believe in coincidences.

Take today's Gospel (see above) for example - this is the theme of the young adult weekend retreat that starts tomorrow.

Boy, that was timing it.

I've been reflecting on this passage from Matthew for the past few months, and each time I hear it, I do so in a different light. Different phrases speak to me...or I read others' reflections on it, and those provide new inspiration.

One of the reflections that stuck with me about this passage came from a children's resource - during our morning prayer over the loudspeaker at school, one of the older students was reading a reflection that said (something along these lines), "It doesn't say 'you shall receive what you want' but 'you shall receive.'" And this actually reminded me of a neat quote I came across on Pinterest a few weeks back (and have since shared with a few people):

So, yes, I do believe God always answers our prayers when we ask...it's just not always in the way we expect Him to.

May we find hope in #3 on that list when we feel our prayers aren't being answered - God has something better in store...or maybe we just need to exercise a little more patience...