Ask, Seek, Knock!
By Paul J. Ashton, Psy.D., D.Min.
Consultant to the VIRTUS® Programs
Consultant to the VIRTUS® Programs
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. —Matthew 7: 7-8
The Lenten Season is upon us, and we embrace another opportunity to begin anew and start fresh. The ashes we receive on our foreheads are signs to a busy world of the seriousness of our intentions as Christians to mark the 40 days of Lent with prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. The ashes are a sign of repentance and penance, but also remind us of our mortality—that our life on this earth is limited, but our eternal life with God is forever.
The Baptismal theme—being born anew with water and the Spirit—weaves its way throughout the entire season of Lent. Its refreshing promise and message beckoning us to begin anew and to start again, forgiven, loved, and affirmed by God is the way we obtain meaning in our challenged lives.
The presence of so many wonderful Catechumens (called the Elect after the celebration of the Rite of Election on the First Sunday of Lent) seeking to celebrate the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, and those seeking full communion in the Church are living reminders of our own need to constantly attend to our life-long conversion process. We journey together with the newest members of our Catholic Community seeking God’s transforming Grace in our own lives all the while showing them the ways in which our tradition calls us to holiness.
Relying on God’s power in our own lives, we share the stories of our own struggles, pains, and challenges and how we have met them either head on or sometimes avoided them. By doing so, others see how God manifests in our lives, and they are attracted to this experience. In sharing our struggles and joys, we all become transformed. The markings of Lent—praying, giving to the poor, and fasting—unite us to each other and to those in the world whose needs are greater than our own.
Perhaps this Lent we can ponder what we are promised in Matthew’s Gospel in a different way:
Ask—As we pray this Lent, we might try turning the equation around for a time. Instead of our usual posture of petition, might we open ourselves to the things that God is asking of us?
Seek—Where are the places that we are most needed? Who needs our presence? What does our presence require? How can we be present in small ways? What does it require of us to be present in large ways?
Knock—Are there opportunities in our lives that we avoid because they appear difficult? Do we avoid exploring new possibilities and opening new doors because we are fearful and anxious? Do we fear rejection if we present ourselves to new persons, places, and things in our lives?
May our Lenten journey be filled new opportunities taken, doors opened, and questions answered.
This article is not part of your continuing training. To access your required bulletins you must log in using the form in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. Then go to the TRAINING tab.
