My reflections for Mar. 09, 2006 - Thursday

March 9, 2006

Reading I
Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25

Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,
had recourse to the LORD.
She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids,
from morning until evening, and said:
“God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you.
Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,
for I am taking my life in my hand.
As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers
that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you.
Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,
O LORD, my God.

“And now, come to help me, an orphan.
Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion
and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy,
so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.
Save us from the hand of our enemies;
turn our mourning into gladness
and our sorrows into wholeness.”

(Esther realizes that she is the only one who has any hope of saving the Jewish people and even this is a remote hope as to enter the presence of the king without being called is an action that defies death. Her courage is not in question as she cries out to God for strenght and help in her mission. God hears her cry. He comes to her help as the mission turns out to be successful. The Jews are saved and their persecutor is sentenced to death in the process.)

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 138:1-2, 2-3, 7-8

R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple
and give thanks to your name.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Because of your kindness and your truth;
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.
R. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me.

Gospel
Matthew 7:7-12

Jesus said to his disciples:
“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.
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?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give good things
to those who ask him.

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.
This is the law and the prophets.”

(Jesus encourages us to persevere in prayer and all that we do for that matter. How faithful are we in this? There is an old saying that goes: "When the going gets tough that's when the tough gets going!" Is this the case with us when we are confronted with the battlefield of sin? Do we give up too easily when the times get tough or do we see the thing tough through to its completion and victory?)

Meditation for Lent <== Click here

God's special verse/thought for me today.

my reflections
think: Do we give up too easily when the times get tough?

thank You Lord for: