Thursday, March 2, 2023

 Thursday of the First Week of Lent

(Esther c:12.14-16.23-25; Matthew 7:7-12)

Thomas Aquinas was as intellectually gifted as any saint in Butler’s Lives.  Yet he did not rely on his own acuity.  Always before studying, teaching,  debating, or writing, he prayed intensely.  He withdrew into a private space, often before a crucifix. Then, pouring out tears, he asked for understanding of the divine mysteries.  No doubt, Thomas was quite aware that he was fulfilling the Lord’s instruction in today’s gospel.

Even people who pray regularly often delay their prayer until other means of resolving an issue fail.  The Book of Esther is famous for not mentioning God.  Yet, with nowhere else to turn except to heaven, the queen prostrates herself in prayer.  There is nothing wrong with praying in desperation.  However, Scripture recommends constant prayer, and the wise do not fail to take the advice. 

Like Thomas Aquinas, we can begin every endeavor with a sincere prayer for help.  God does not fail us when we show such faith.  Even if He does not fulfill our need as we imagine, we should notice a more agreeable disposition coming over us. God provides what we need like a father who wants the best for his children.

Thursday, March 10, 2022

 Thursday of the First Week of Lent

(Esther C:12.14-16.23-25; Matthew 7:7-12)

Of the three Lenten disciplinary practices prayer would seem to an atheist the most absurd.  Fasting would make sense because most everybody needs to lose weight.  Charity also has some palpable benefits.  It helps the receiver and leaves the giver with a feeling of worthiness.  But prayer for an atheist must seem as useless as squeezing a stone for water.

Believers know better.  Prayer not only relieves tension in the one who prays.  It also moves God to effect helpful change.  Jesus obviously things so in today’s gospel.  He exhorts his disciples to have no less reservation asking God for help than a child would in asking his mother for a sandwich.  Queen Esther in today’s reading asks God’s help in her desperate situation.  She will not be disappointed.

We may not pray or pray as an afterthought because of our belief that focused action is more likely to get us what we need.  It is true that often our needs are provided through our own efforts.  Still it is God who provides.  Equally certain, God more often helps us through others – our parents, teachers, or friends.  God also provides in unexpected ways – what we might call “luck.”  We should go to God as our needs arise, as they become acute, and after we have done what we can to meet them.

Thursday, February 25, 2021

 Thursday of the First Week of Lent

(Esther C:12.14-16.23-25; Matthew 7:7-12)

Michael “Mickey” Schachle was born six years ago to a couple in central Tennessee.  He has Down Syndrome, but it is remarkable that he is alive at all.  During his mother’s pregnancy, medical personnel discovered that Mickey had fetal hydrops, a life-threatening condition.  Coupled with his chromosomal abnormality, his doctor gave Mickey no chance of survival.  His parents then prayed for a miracle to Fr. Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus.  Afterwards, the fatal condition was no longer present. Through the intercession of his parents and Fr. McGivney, God has granted Mickey life, happiness, and love today.

Equally so Queen Esther’s prayers in today’s first reading are answered.  She is appealing to the Lord for her Jewish people in Persia who are being threatened with genocide.  The plot, which the king’s minister has woven, to kill the Jews is foiled when the minister’s treachery is revealed.  In the gospel Jesus tells his disciples to pray like Esther – sincerely, determinedly, and beseechingly.

We sometimes become discouraged when our prayers are not answered as we imagined they would be. That should be no reason to stop praying but to pray even harder.  God, who loves us more than we could appreciate or even know, heeds our requests.  He will help us according to his all-beneficent will.  We should never stop praying.

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Thursday of the First Week in Lent

(Esther C:12.14-16; 23-25; Matthew 7:7-12)

You will not find today’s passage from the Book of Esther in most so-called Protestant Bibles.  Its composition in the Greek language has put it outside the Canons of Jews and Protestants.  The Catholic patriarchs, however, decided that many Jewish scriptures written in the Greek or Aramaic languages deserve consideration as the inspired word of God.  Today’s passage certainly indicates a custom that Jews and Christians have practiced since their origins.  In times of trouble, pious people always turn to God for deliverance. 

Although God certainly has no need of human attention, He has been revealed as a father who cares for all His children.  This is certainly Jesus’ intention in today’s gospel passage. He tells his disciples that even more than their fathers on earth, God will assist them.  He exhorts them to ask Him to ask in prayer for what they need

Just about all of us have had a positive experience when we turned to God in our need.  Perhaps we misplaced a book or are looking for a parking place.  Rather than fretting over the matter, we humbly asked God for help.  Then, quite remarkably, we found what we were searching for.  It seems to happen more often than randomness can explain.  Yet it also seems that if we ever tried to test the probability, we would come out frustrated.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(Esther C:12.14-16.23-25; Matthew 7:7-12)

Rabbi’s Harold Kushner best-seller When Bad Things Happen to Good People pictures an almost impotent God who helps people by inspiring them to work together.  Prayer to such a deity, it claims, gives one occasion to think about what must be done to improve the situation herself.  The book seems to say that any hope that the situation may be modified that goes beyond human will and perhaps chance is wishful thinking.  Is there any way to reconcile such thinking to the Scripture readings today?

Jesus assures his disciples in today’s gospel that God listens to prayers like an indulgent father attends to the pleas of his children.  Queen Esther in the Old Testament selection demonstrates the proper stance vis-à-vis the Lord as she throws herself to the ground in supplication.  In both cases God is considered as the real cause of change.  Both readings claim that God can be counted on for assistance.

“Then why are not all prayers answered?” some will retort.  This is an earnest question which may be called “the mystery of God’s silence.”  Its answer is steeped in tradition although it will not satisfy everyone.  It insists that we must acknowledge God in faith even though we will never understand all His ways.  Just as He has been actively present to us countless times, He can withhold any recognizable response.  Still we can be sure that He has heard our plea and will act on our behalf although when and how may not be forthcoming.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

(Esther C:12.14-16.23-25; Matthew 7:7-12)

Rabbi’s Harold Kushner best-seller When Bad Things Happen to Good People pictures an almost anemic God who helps people by inspiring them to work together. Prayer to such a deity gives one occasion to think about what must be done to improve the situation herself. But any hope that It can somehow modify the situation beyond the process of human will and chance is wish-making. Is there any way to reconcile such thinking to the Scripture readings today?

Jesus assures his disciples in the gospel that God listens to the prayers of His people like an indulgent father, the pleas of his children. Queen Esther in the Old Testament selection demonstrates the proper attitude as she throws herself to the ground in supplication before the Lord. In both cases God is considered as the real cause of change. He can be counted on for assistance.

“Then why are not all prayers answered?” some will want to retort. This is an earnest question which Pope Benedict in his recent letter introducing the Holy Year of Faith recognizes as “God’s silence.” Its answer is steeped in tradition although may not satisfy everyone. In the end we must stand before the mystery of God in faith. Just as He has been actively present to us countless time, He can withhold any cognizable response. Still we can be sure that He has heard our plea and will act on our behalf although when and how may not be forthcoming.