Ask, Seek, Knock

Today's gospel (Matthew 7: 7-12) contains one of the more well known sayings of Jesus: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." But we have to be very careful when we read it, because it does not say that we will be given what we ask for, find what we seek or find what we expect on the other side of the door. The example He uses is from their own life experience, quite correctly noting that a parent would never give their child something that would harm them. But, by saying that a parent would not give their child a snake when asked for a fish, He does not say that they necessarily get the fish either. Maybe they will get a bowl of rice, or some grapes. We all have this sort of experience as well. And in relating it to God, we can see that it is also true. How many times have you prayed for something, only to have a result very different that the one you were expecting? We are sometimes very quick to say that "God did not answer my prayers", just because we did not get exactly what we wanted in the way we wanted. But in hindsight we usually see that God did in fact answer our prayer in a different way. The important thing is to continue to go to God, to ask, seek, knock. Just be aware that you may not be given exactly what you asked for; you may not find exactly what you were looking for, you may be surprised by what is there when the door opens. But be assured that whatever you are given, find or encounter, God will be there with you to help use it in the best possible way.