Wednesday of the
Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Matthew 18:15-20)
Development has been a growth industry for thirty
years. Of course, the development that I
have in mind has nothing to do with land or cameras but with growing funds for
a church or charitable organization.
Development advisors make a mantra of the conventional wisdom that in
order to receive you have to ask. They point
out that most people do not mind being asked.
Sure, some will refuse the request, but more people than petitioners
imagine are willing to make a contribution to a cause they believe in.
In the gospel Jesus tells his disciples not to be shy about
asking favors from the Father. He
assures them that God is ready to grant their requests. This assurance comes after the statement on fraternal
correction probably because Jesus wants his disciples to give priority to community
needs, especially the necessity of unity in truth and love.
Of course, sometimes we are not granted what we request. “What went wrong?” we may then ask
ourselves. Did we not pray hard
enough? Perhaps, we wonder, we did not really
believe that God could grant our petition?
Rather than speculate on our diligence or question God’s omnipotence, we
might remember how Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, “...let this cup pass from me”
without receiving a positive response.
It is important as well to remember the second part of Jesus’ prayer,
“...yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Disposing ourselves to the divine will does not undercut our requests. Rather, it recognizes that God knows best and
will take care of us whatever hardship we have to face.
