From: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25 (New American Bible)
Esther 14:1, 3-5, 12-15a (Revised Standard Version)
Esthers Prayer
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
14:1-19. Esthers prayer is an example of the new tone of trusting prayer notice-
able in this book and which is quite close to the New Testament style of prayer.
Also, there is a kind of litany in it reminiscent of the style of Psalm 136. In all
simplicity, Esther implores Gods help, confident that he who has done so much
for his people over the course of history will not leave them unprotected in their
present need.
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: Matthew 7:7-12
The Effectiveness of Prayer
The Golden Rule
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
7-11. Here the Master teaches us in a number of ways about the effectiveness
of prayer. Prayer is a raising of mind and heart to God to adore Him, to praise
Him, to thank Him and to ask Him for what we need (cf. “St. Pius X Catechism”,
255). Jesus emphasizes the need for petitionary prayer, which is the first spon-
taneous movement of a soul who recognizes God as his Creator and Father.
As God’s creature and child, each of us needs to ask Him humbly for everything.
In speaking of the effectiveness of prayer, Jesus does not put any restriction:
“Every one who asks receives”, because God is our Father. St. Jerome com-
ments: “It is written, to everyone who asks it will be given; so, if it is not given to
you, it is not given to you because you do not ask; so, ask and you will receive”
(”Comm. in Matth.”, 7). However, even though prayer in itself is infallible, some-
times we do not obtain what we ask for. St. Augustine says that our prayer is
not heard because we ask “aut mali, aut male, aut mala.” “Mali” (= evil people):
because we are evil, because our personal dispositions are not good; “male”
(= badly): because we pray badly, without faith, not persevering, not humbly;
“mala” (= bad things): because we ask for bad things, that is, things which are
not good for us, things which can harm us (cf. “De Civitate Dei, XX”, 22 and 27;
“De Serm. Dom. In Monte”, II, 27, 73). In the last analysis, prayer is ineffective
when it is not true prayer. Therefore, “Pray. In what human venture could you
have greater guarantee of success?” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 96).
12. This “golden rule” gives us a guideline to realize our obligations towards and
the love we should have for others. However, if we interpreted it superficially it
would become a selfish rule; it obviously does not mean “do utdes” (”I give you
something so that you will give me something”) but that we should do good to
others unconditionally: we are clever enough not to put limits on how much we
love ourselves. This rule of conduct will be completed by Jesus’ “new command-
ment” (John 13:34), where He teaches us to love others as He Himself has loved
us.
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.