March 13, 2025 // Thursday of the First Week in Lent

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 7:7-12

Reflect on the Word //

I came into His Eucharistic Presence saying, Lord,  please give me energy. I don’t know how I’m going to make it through the night. I’m so tired. I went to Him needing more than a little break. A two-week cold/flu thing disrupted my plans for what was supposed to be a very simple party for a program I was running. That night was “go-time,” and in a few hours, over a hundred people would be on campus.

I had been fighting discouragement mingled with brain fog all morning.  But I was so grateful He gave me the grace to pry away from the office to go to pray. When I looked up at Him to genuflect, my heart felt a familiar relief. 

I exhaled as He reminded me that He is our gentle, good, Almighty God. I rested in that gaze, and He quietly responded by giving a gentle surge of energy. There You go being God! Thank you, Jesus! I was amazed. Then I felt Him say, You don’t ask Me to help you enough. I knew it was His voice because it was encouraging, simple, and without a tinge of condemnation. His goodness pierced my heart. 

It is true, O Jesus, I can do nothing without you. It was a moment of profound reconnection.

 “Ask and it will be given to you . . .” (Matthew 7:7). The Gospel passage today can feel so familiar that we tune it out. But when our good Jesus says, “Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish?” (Matthew 7:9-10) are we not struck to the core?

Our dear Jesus doesn’t need you or me to work harder without Him. Our greatest talents are like everything else: pure gift. Our Jesus wants us to ask, seek, and knock because He wants us to spend our time—all of it—growing and learning how to live in, of, and with Him. He is the source of all life. He Himself will supply for our every need if only we ask. 

Relate to the Lord // Turn to Jesus in faith and ask Him for what you need and desire today.