The more we put in

Readings for Thursday October 8, 2009

First Reading: Malachi 3:13-20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1
Gospel: Luke 11:5-13


“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; 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. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Lk 11:9-13)

There is something that I have realized about vending machines; the more money that you put in, the better the treat. I noticed that the lowest costing items usually are not very good; it is either some gum that loses its flavor in about 10 seconds, or some generic bad tasting mints. But some of the more expensive items are usually the best; perhaps like some baked lays, sun chips or pop tarts. It seems to me that with vending machines, the more money you put in the more you will get out (either quantity or quality of items).

And so it is like prayer, the more we do it and the more we put in to it, the more we will get out of it. Jesus tells us today that we should not only pray, but that we are to be persistent in our prayer. He tells us that God wants to answer our prayers, but we must make the first move, we must be willing to "put something in." It is like the vending machine, if we do not go to it and put any money in, then we will not get anything out. We must be willing and be open to going to our Father in heaven with our joys, sorrows, and all of our needs.

"Ask and you shall receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you", these are the words that our savior tells us to remind us that God is there wanting to talk to us and to help us by answering our prayers. God loves us so much, we are His greatly loved children, and what loving Father does not want to answer the requests of their children?

Prayer, the more we put in, the more we will get out.

Father above, we thank you and praise you for the gift of this day. Lord, you are our great and awesome God, and it is you alone that we serve and dedicate our lives to. Lord, you aer so good to us, we thank you and praise you for your love and mercy, help us to continue this life carrying our cross with peace and joy in our hearts; forever thinking of joining you one day in heaven. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.