Imagine Jesus standing at a door with a lantern in his hand and the verse from Revelation 3, Verse 20: “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him and he with me.”
In Matthew’s gospel today, Jesus continues instructing the disciples about prayer. Yesterday He told them how to pray and taught them the Our Father. Today, Jesus tells them to Ask, Seek, and Knock. When the Lord told them to knock, I pictured that image of Jesus with a lantern in his hand, waiting at the door.
In her meditation, “I thirst”, Mother Theresa revealed how Christ yearns to enter our lives. She writes:
“...it is true, Jesus stands at the door of your heart day and night. Even when you are not listening, even when you doubt it can be, he is there, waiting for even the smallest signal of your response that will permit him to enter.”
Jesus is waiting, waiting for us to let him know we want him to come into our lives. Unfortunately, the door to our hearts can sometimes be closed but it does not stop Jesus from coming to us. He is waiting and asking for permission to enter.
The Scriptures today remind us to call out to God for help. We heard the cry of Queen Esther and her cry for help feeling all alone with no one to turn to. She knocked on God’s door and he answered her. He answered her prayer.
One of the pillars of this Lenten season is our focus on prayer. God is encouraging us to ask, seek, and knock. He is letting us know we have someone to go to, to speak to; someone who will be there to listen.
In His teaching today, Jesus asked His disciples how they would react and respond if their child were to come to them with a need, a request. Would they not respond, reach out, and show a father’s concern?
Father's naturally yearn to provide for their children. Imagine what more our Lord, our Heavenly Father, will provide for us, if only we open our minds and hearts.
Lent is an ideal time to ponder our relationship with God. It is an ideal time to invite Him to pass through the door of our hearts and for us to discover the love and concern that God has for each one of us.
- Father Leo's inspirational homily was recorded live this morning during Mass at the Father Peyton Center. Please view the video on our Facebook page. (You don't need a Facebook account to view.)
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