A.S.K {Day 25}

Ask, and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door open to him. {Matthew 7: 7-9}

You know, when we were confirmed, it became our responsibility to learn about our faith!! It was no longer the responsibility of our parents, our Catholic School or CCD program, it became ours, when we received the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament.

I love this scripture verse because it puts to own-ess squarely on us/me! This reflection is on delving into the Gospels.

When is the last time you delved into anything? As the word “delve” means to excavate, to dig with labor, or to make a careful or detailed search for information. Wow, that gives us a good mental picture as to what Matthew Kelly means when he says delve into the scriptures.

With that in mind, we must ask ourselves some serious questions. First, do I want to delve that deeply or do I like to stay on the surface of my faith? Second, am I afraid of what I might find there and have to make a choice about how I live my life? Third, do I really want to know Jesus and have an intimate relationship with him?

These are all valid questions no matter if you are a beginner or you’ve been faithfully practicing, as Jesus is always calling us to a deeper relationship with him, ourselves and the world around us.

Ask and it will be given to you. Take a moment to really delve into this statement. I just paused and thought for a moment and the enormity of this statement hit me like a ton of bricks. Ask and it will be given to you. What should we ask for? Perhaps an increase in faith or that I might see, or any number of other things. The idea is to ask for what you need the most.

For the one who asks always receives. No ambiguity there. It’s a promise. In case we missed it in the first statement.

Search and you will find. What is it that you are searching for? Do you even know? I don’t mean that to sound flip but the truth is do we know ourselves enough to know what we are searching for.

For the one who searches always finds. The second promise.

Knock and the door will be open to you. What door would you like open?

For the one who knocks will always have the door open to him. Third promise.

Now I see why we must use the word ‘delve’ as we must take action. Ask, search, knock are all action verbs, we must take action.

By taking action we receive, find and have the door open.

It truly is that simple and that hard.

We are to initiate the relationship with Jesus.

The beautiful gift of free-will.

Keeping in mind that our actions will have life- changing consequences.