Prayer is a process of forming the heart as well

How many times have I consistently prayed for things which until now haven’t been answered. Some prayers I have even set a timeline. Some prayers I have tailored perfect according to how I prefer to receive them. But up until now, they haven’t been answered and this leads to my frustrations most of the time. Frustrated and disappointed I have decided to praying for them in order to avoid heartbreak and further frustration and possible loose faith.

However, I find solace in our Gospel for today.

In our Gospel we are given an idea about the attitudes and goals in praying. Most often than not, we are unconscious that along with our prayer are underlying attitude which in turn forms our hearts eventually whether our prayers are answered or not.

First attitude is that of persistence. The operative word being persistence, we are reminded of the constancy and fervor in prayer. Why do prayers take so long to be answered? Most often they get unanswered at all. But persistence and consistency surely helps because God may actually be delaying for reasons known to him alone.

Second attitude is that of Trust. Trust that the giver would give us Bread and not stone when we ask for one. This reality has its objective and that is to take away from our hearts any doubt concerning the prayer addressed to God with trust.

Third is that of Hope. To hope that the prayer to be given us is good because your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. Hope is the attitude of dependence and complete trust.

Lastly is that of the attitude of paying forward. To repay generosity with a generosity passed on. Repay goodness with goodness from here onwards. A granted prayer is a gift but the person which emerged from the process of knocking, seeking and asking hopefully emerges as a gift also for others; someone who knows the joy of receiving and thus eventually would know the joy of giving.

With all the four attitudes that are evoked in a prayer, we are given the idea that asking in prayer is a process of conformity. The knocking, the seeking, and the asking are given emphasis because they are not mere characteristics of prayer but they are actually the requirements for the formation of the heart.

In our knocking, asking and seeking, our soul expands in anticipation. (Barron). Something inside us changes, hopefully for the better. The delays and even the rejection of our prayers are meant not to disappoint us but to make us grow in faith, hopefully become mature Christians eventually.

And when finally one receives, one is invited to pay it forward. Paying goodness with goodness is a matter of showing and celebrating the attitudes which have been evoked in us through the process of transformation obtained in heartbreaks and unanswered prayers.

Next to obtaining what we pray for is the emergence of hard-earned and hard-learned values of waiting. In our frustration there is a value. In the delay, there is a message. In the rejection, there is a lesson to be learned.

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FIRST READING

Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25

Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,

had recourse to the LORD.

She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids,

from morning until evening, and said:

“God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you.

Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,

for I am taking my life in my hand.

As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers

that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you.

Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,

O LORD, my God.

“And now, come to help me, an orphan.

Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion

and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy,

so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.

Save us from the hand of our enemies;

turn our mourning into gladness

and our sorrows into wholeness.”

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8

R. (3a) Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,

for you have heard the words of my mouth;

in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;

I will worship at your holy temple

and give thanks to your name.

Because of your kindness and your truth;

for you have made great above all things

your name and your promise.

When I called, you answered me;

you built up strength within me.

Your right hand saves me.

The LORD will complete what he has done for me;

your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;

forsake not the work of your hands.

GOSPEL

Mt 7:7-12

Jesus said to his disciples:

“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.

Which one of you would hand his son a stone

when he asked for a loaf of bread,

or a snake when he asked for a fish?

If you then, who are wicked,

know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more will your heavenly Father give good things

to those who ask him.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”