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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.” Matthew 7:7–8
Will God grant us whatever we ask for? Though one might conclude
this from today’s Gospel, Jesus qualifies His statement by adding,
“...how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to
those who ask him.” In other words, God always gives “good” things
to those who sincerely ask. The key question is: What qualifies as
good?
If we desire something—such as a new car—and perceive it as good,
will God grant us that wish simply because we ask in faith? Only if
God also sees that gift as good for us. He promises to meet our
most basic material needs and provide for all our spiritual needs,
but He might not see specific requests as beneficial. For instance,
what if driving an old car is better for your soul in fostering
simplicity or detachment? God may prompt us to forego that desire
for a new car in exchange for something better. God always offers
us what is truly good, but this good is defined by His perfect
wisdom, not by our immediate wants.
What, then, does God perceive as good? Above all, He is the
ultimate Good. God is Goodness itself, and there is nothing greater
we can ask for than the gift of Himself. If we ask Him to fill our
hearts with His grace, uniting Himself with our souls, He will
never fail to do so. Moreover, God’s will is perfect in every way.
If we seek His will, He will reveal it to us. The door He wants to
open is the one that leads us to grace, mercy, and the fulfillment
of His will. It will always be opened when we knock on this door
with a heart seeking His divine plan.
One of the most common human struggles is to discern the difference
between our will and God’s. In our fallen state, we are confused
about what is truly good. As a result, when we perceive something
as good—such as material success, comfort, or recognition—our
desires often become fixated on that false good. Once this
attachment forms, letting go and trusting God's will can be
challenging.
The remedy is detachment—precisely, detachment from our disordered
desires. Our passions and desires can be unruly, leading us to
pursue things not aligned with God’s plan. Detachment begins with
allowing God’s truth to purify our minds and reorder our desires.
As divine wisdom takes root, we begin to desire what God desires
and become free from selfish ambitions. This interior
transformation enables us to ask, seek, and knock for the things
that lead to holiness.
Reflect today on Jesus’ call to ask, seek, and knock. Do so
abundantly—but not for superficial wants or fleeting pleasures.
Instead, ask for God Himself and His holy will to be made manifest
in your life. Pray that He fills you with His grace, purifies your
thoughts, and aligns your desires with His perfect plan. When you
do, your Heavenly Father will bestow upon you every good thing
beyond anything you could ask for.
God of perfect Goodness, Your ways are infinitely wise and holy.
You desire only the true good for Your children. Please purify my
mind and heart so I may desire nothing but You and Your will. Free
me from selfish attachments and misguided desires, and pour forth
Your abundant grace into my life. Jesus, I trust in You.
Image - Andrei Mironov, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia
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