What We Do Unto Others: A reflection for 3/5/20:

Today’s Gospel in Matthew is true to the current Lenten season.  Jesus instructs us to act faithfully in pursuing Him.  He encourages us to be forthcoming with our desires, our fears, and our thoughts and in doing so, promises us that He will be there as he always has been.  However, Jesus also reminds us that we are to treat others in the same manner that He treats us when we fly to Him with the things in our hearts.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.  Everyone who asks receives; everyone who searches finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened.”  Sounds pretty simple doesn’t it?  Two things we must remember about this Gospel, and Lent is the perfect time to do some remembering…..the questions come on our time…the answers come on God’s time…WE ARE NOT THE ONES IN CHARGE HERE!  A more appropriate translation of this Gospel could be “Ask, and wait for God to answer; Knock and wait for God to open the door; Search and wait for God, who has been constructing the plan of your life all this time, to allow that plan to unfold at the right time as to best benefit you!”  It’s always the second part that trips us up huh.

About that second part...how about the second part of today’s Gospel: “Is there anyone among you who hand his son a stone when he asked for bread?  Or would you hand him a snake when he asked for a fish?  If you, then, evil as you are, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him?”  Understanding this, we are to trust that God will not only answer our prayers, but He will answer them in the way, and at the time, that will be absolutely best for us! 

There is however, one last part to this excerpt from today’s Gospel which may be the most reflective of our Lenten journey this year.  Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel from the Book of Matthew, to “always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the Law and the Prophets.”  Putting this all together…if you feel like God isn’t answering your call to your expectation, perhaps it is because you aren’t answer His call in your life for others….

Trust in the Lord our God, always. 

“Lord, your son taught us that those who ask, receive; that those who seek, find; and that those who knock, have the door opened for them. May we pray with such believing faith, trusting in your divine providence, so that we may receive the gifts you wish to give to us as we faithfully seek to follow your son. Amen.”  - Rev. Andrew Gawrych, C.S.C.

Mr. Swann/Principal

Our Lady of Mount Carmel