HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF FIRST WEEK OF LENT YEAR A, BY REV FR EKESHIRI JUDE EMEKA CSSP.
THEME: PRAYING WITH INTENTION (ESTHER 4:17, PSALM 137:1-3,7-8, MATTHEW 7:7-12)
Beloved in Christ, today we are presented with the question of faith and intention. Faith is a strong belief that God knows our needs and He would grant them to us even before we ask Him to do so.
The gospel of today is intriguing, because it offers us with a question such as, why would God need us to ask before we can receive from Him? Does He need to be reminded of what He can clearly do for us as our father without asking? Nevertheless, God does not need to be reminded, but requires us to state our intentions and make it clearly, so that we are not confused about what we truly wanted.
Some people may be very sick, yet they are asking God for a car or for an aeroplane for example. This is a misplaced priority. Faith is believing in the power of God to attend to our needs.
Jesus added these phrases, “For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. Is there a man among you who would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or would hand him a snake when he asked for a fish? If you, then, who are evil, 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! (Matthew 7:7-12).
Take a look at this word, ‘the one who ask always receive.’ Asking is not a crime, it is with an intention. An intention that does not compel one to do, but to anticipate.
Prayer is not a vague or an empty event but an intentional reaction to God’s love and presence in our lives. God knows everything but He wants us to state what we are asking of Him to do for us. Dear friends, when you pray and perform acts of good deeds, do it with pure intentions coming from a heart that is full of love for God and God will in turn reward you with prayer answered . Peace be with you.
