DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Saturday, September 8, 2018

Then Christ said, “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.  For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Luke 11:9-10

In these later years of my life, I have come to an understanding of this passage that is probably different from the common understanding.  It is a nuance, an emphasis upon the active verbs, asking, seeking, knocking.

When I listen to others, especially those who lean toward the prosperity gospel, I hear “ask for whatever you desire and God will give it to you, go searching for the text that justifies your opinion, keep knocking on the door that want to be opened.”  But I now hear this passage speaking of a far more insightful understanding.  “It will be in the process of asking that you will learn what to ask; it will be in the process of searching that you will discover things you would have never intended to search for; it will be in the process of knocking on doors that you will come upon those doors chooses to open.”

By way of the process of asking the questions we are taught by the Lord.  By way of the process of searching for that which is holy we are taught by the Lord.  By way of the process of knocking on doors to new possible realms we are taught by the Lord.

I have a prayer that I often use in times of the doldrums, and I probably ought to pray it daily.  It is based on this teaching of Christ… “Lord, give me a question to ask, a truth to find, and a realm to explore.”

Loved Ones, be one who keeps asking the questions, who keeps searching for answers, who keeps knocking on the doors of possibilities.

Always in Christ’s Service,

Fr. Charitas de la Cruz