Ask, Seek, Knock | Matthew 7:7-12

 Ask, and it will be given to 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 asked for bread, would give a stone? Or if the child asked for a fish, would 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.

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Lent is a decidedly different liturgical season in terms of tone and even color. It’s a time for repentance, for fasting, for prayer. It is not usually a time for asking, for searching, or for knocking, which is what this passage seems to indicate. Or is it? It’s not a passage that talks about giving up things, as we often do during these 40 days. It is not talking about giving up chocolate, or broccoli, or wine. Rather, it talks about not giving up. We are to ask, we are to seek, we are to knock, and Jesus says that we won’t be disappointed. Maybe that is what Lent is about: not giving up but continuing, in a stronger way. To pray harder for those being bombed in Ukraine and suffering in Gaza; to pray harder for those being harassed in Minneapolis; and to hope that love and kindness will open a door on which we knock every day of this season.

This world gives out stones and snakes, bombs and bullets. Lord, may we be refashioned this Lent into instruments of your grace and love through our asking, our searching, and our knocking. Amen.

Rev. Marvin Henk

Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church | Mamaroneck, NY

Faculty for 17 Years