February 22nd Lenten Reflection

Matthew 7:7–12

Jesus 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. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.”

Jesus 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.

Reflection by Mary Westcott

As someone who has spent her entire life seeking to find God and to do God’s will this passage is a comfort and a confirmation to me that it is OK to be a seeker. In my younger

years I had an expectation that at some point I would find complete and final answers to what I was seeking. I often found myself questioning if I was failing because I could not always see clearly the answers to my seeking. Over time I have come to find a deeper meaning and comfort in this passage because it is a promise directly from Jesus to everyone who seeks. In this passage Jesus not only blesses all of us who seek he also promises we will find our path and our way through life.  When I was younger and read this passage I envisioned that when the door opened on the other side would be a wonderful place with a path to clear unquestionable answers. Now, as an ‘elder’. I am at peace knowing that the door does open to other paths and while that path may be clear it is all too often a path that may be winding and where my vision to even see the next step ahead may not be visible. However, I am continuing to learn to practice embracing the anticipation of what is behind the next new door including the embracing of the unseen path because I know Jesus has promised God will be with me in every step. Throughout his ministry Jesus continually promised us many blessings and this passage assures us that being seekers will lead to us all that has been promised to us. I believe I will be a seeker for my entire journey through this life and being a seeker is not only enough but is blessed by God. It is a joy to be able to be in a community of other seekers to share this journey. My years at Christ Church have blessed me immeasurably with the companionship and friendship of other seekers.   My hope and prayer is we can continue to journey together to discover all of God’s promises and blessings. We only need to remember “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.”