A reading from the gospel according to Matthew 7:7-12:

7 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.
8 For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread,
10 or a snake when he asked for a fish?
11 If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.
12 “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”

Points for Reflection: Asking, Seeking, Knocking
1. The gospel passage above is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount which is about character development that we need to have in order to be part of His kingdom. The kind of behavior that pleases Jesus is very difficult to follow that is why we need to pray.

2. God did not promise wealth, health and power. Instead, He promises the gifts of the Holy Spirit namely wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These are the things that we should ask, seek and knock for. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33).”

3. God is generous. He give us what we need, not what we want. So, when pray, let us focus on being guided by the Holy Spirit so that we will know God’s will for our life. We want many things in life what there is only one thing that we need – a deep relationship with God. It is His will that we keep the line of communication with Him open all the time.

4. Our prayer must be persistent. Let us pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We must keep asking, seeking, and knocking because God wants us to be dependent on Him alone. He is our Father and we are His children.

5. For God to grant our prayer, we must please Him by having a good relationship with one another. It is therefore imperative that we do what is good for others because that is what we want them to do for us.

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In our journey of faith, we often face moments of doubt, uncertainty, and waiting. We pray, yet answers seem delayed. We seek, yet doors remain closed. We knock, yet nothing seems to open. During these times, Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:7-12 serve as a powerful reminder that persistence in prayer and trust in God never go unrewarded.

The Invitation to Ask, Seek, and Knock
Jesus’ teaching encourages us to approach God boldly and consistently. Notice the increasing intensity in His words: asking, seeking, and knocking. Each action requires more effort, symbolizing a deepening relationship with God.

Asking represents simple prayer, that is, presenting our needs before God. It reflects humility, recognizing that we depend on Him.
Seeking goes beyond asking. It requires active pursuit, desiring God’s will rather than just our requests.
Knocking implies perseverance. It’s for those who don’t give up, even when answers don’t come immediately.

God does not turn away those who come to Him. He delights in our persistence because it demonstrates faith. Just as a loving parent listens to their child’s requests, our Heavenly Father listens to us.

A Loving and Faithful Father
Jesus reassures us that God’s nature is that of a good and loving Father. No loving parent would give harmful things to their child. If earthly parents, despite their imperfections, can provide good gifts, how much more will our perfect and all-knowing God? He knows what is best for us and provides according to His wisdom, not just our wants. Sometimes, His answer is different from our expectations—but it is always good.

Consider a child asking for candy before dinner. A loving parent may say “no” or “wait” because they know what is best for the child’s health. Similarly, God’s answers may not always be immediate or as we desire, but they are always filled with wisdom and love.

Faith That Does Not Give Up
Many biblical figures demonstrated this persistent faith.
Hannah prayed for a child for years, and God blessed her with Samuel.
Blind Bartimaeus did not stop calling out to Jesus despite being told to be quiet. His persistence led to his healing.
The Canaanite Woman did not give up when Jesus initially seemed to refuse her request. Her great faith resulted in her daughter’s healing.

These stories remind us that persistence in faith moves the heart of God. Delays do not mean denials. God’s silence is often a call for us to trust Him deeper.

The Golden Rule: Love in Action
Matthew 7:12, often called the “Golden Rule,” teaches us to treat others as we would like to be treated. This verse is deeply connected to the previous ones. If we expect God to be generous, loving, and patient with us, we must also reflect His character in how we treat others. When we live by this principle, we become a testimony of God’s goodness.

A Call to Trust and Persevere
If you are in a season of waiting, do not lose heart. Keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. God is faithful, and He will answer in His perfect time and way. His plans are always for your good (Jeremiah 29:11), and He is never late in fulfilling His promises.

Let us trust in His goodness, persist in prayer, and show His love to others, knowing that our Heavenly Father will always give us what is best.