Knocking

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:7-11

How often have I said to a child when they were small, "what is it?" They would be nudging close to me, pressing in and saying nothing but obviously in need. Their request was usually small and easy to fulfill, but there is always this reticence in humans to ask for what we need clearly and concisely. We want our parents and loved ones to be able to read our minds. To supply be fore we even know we are needy, supply before we even ask. And yet, one can never know fulfillment if we don't know the ache of need, even if it is as simple as a cookie or some juice.

Today's passage from Matthew is familiar and often quoted. And yet, we, the faithful, rarely live as if we believe it. Or we want God to give us what we need before we ask, even though the ache and need are the first steps to fulfillment. God activity is always to be in relationship with us, helping us to thrive and to bless others. We are invited to ask, seek and knock, looking to God for full joy in our lives.

Today, I want to ask, seek and knock with every interaction I have today. I am often too self-reliant and get myself in a big fix. So today, I am going to practice asking, seeking and knocking - expecting God to answer. May we all rejoice today in a loving God who invites us to lay all our needs and desires up front and who promises to bring us the fullest of joy.