From: Matthew 7:7-12
The Effectiveness of Prayer
The Golden Rule
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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?” ([Blessed] 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.
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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.
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First reading |
Esther 4:17 © |
Queen Esther took refuge with the Lord in the mortal peril which had overtaken her. She besought the Lord God of Israel in these words:
‘My Lord, our King, the only one,
come to my help, for I am alone
and have no helper but you
and am about to take my life in my hands.
‘I have been taught from my earliest years, in the bosom of my family,
that you, Lord, chose
Israel out of all the nations
and our ancestors out of all the people of old times
to be your heritage for ever;
and that you have treated them as you promised.
‘Remember, Lord; reveal yourself
in the time of our distress.
‘As for me, give me courage,
King of gods and master of all power.
Put persuasive words into my mouth
when I face the lion;
change his feeling into hatred for our enemy,
that the latter and all like him may be brought to their end.
‘As for ourselves, save us by your hand,
and come to my help, for I am alone
and have no one but you, Lord.’
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Psalm |
|
Psalm 137:1-3,7-8 © |
On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.
I thank you, Lord, with all my heart:
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will bless you.
I will adore before your holy temple.
On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.
I thank you for your faithfulness and love,
which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called, you answered;
you increased the strength of my soul.
On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.
You stretch out your hand and save me,
your hand will do all things for me.
Your love, O Lord, is eternal,
discard not the work of your hands.
On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.
|
Gospel Acclamation |
Joel2:12-13 |
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks –
come back to me with all your heart,
for I am all tenderness and compassion.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
|
Or |
Ps50:12,14 |
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
A pure heart create for me, O God,
and give me again the joy of your help.
Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!
|
Gospel |
Matthew 7:7-12 © |
Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 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!
‘So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.’